The new West Bengal cabinet, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, will reveal its portfolio distribution after a meeting at the state secretariat of Nabanna later today. The meeting will allocate responsibilities to the ministers and is expected to make crucial administrative decisions.
On June 1, 35 BJP legislators were sworn in as ministers in Kolkata, with 13 as cabinet ministers, three as ministers of state with independent charge, and 19 as ministers of state. This swearing-in increased the total strength of the West Bengal cabinet to 41 members, including the Chief Minister and six others who took oaths earlier on May 9.
The induction of the 13 new cabinet ministers brings the total number of cabinet-rank members in the new West Bengal government to 19, including CM Adhikari. There is still room for three more ministers, as the state cabinet can have up to 44 members based on the 294-seat West Bengal Assembly strength.
With the upcoming portfolio distribution, the focus is on who will be assigned crucial departments like finance and industry & commerce. CM Adhikari had emphasized the revitalization of the state’s finances and attracting investments. There are speculations that he may retain the finance portfolio until a Delhi-based Bengali economist is elected in the by-elections from Nandigram Assembly constituency.
