West Bengal Cabinet Portfolio Distribution Set for Announcement
Cabinet Meeting Scheduled for Portfolio Allocation
File image of swearing in ceremony of newly inducted cabinet members at Lok Bhawan, Kolkata
Kolkata, June 3: The announcement regarding the distribution of portfolios among the newly formed West Bengal cabinet, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, is expected later today following a meeting of the expanded cabinet.
This cabinet meeting will occur at the Nabanna state secretariat, where the allocation of ministerial responsibilities will take place. Additionally, several significant administrative decisions are anticipated to be made during this gathering.
On June 1, a vibrant ceremony at Lok Bhavan in Kolkata saw 35 legislators from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) take their oaths as ministers. Among these, 13 were appointed as cabinet ministers, three as ministers of state with independent charge, and 19 as ministers of state.
With the recent swearing-in, the total number of ministers in the West Bengal cabinet has risen to 41. Earlier, on May 9, six cabinet ministers, including Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, had already taken their oaths.
The induction of 13 new cabinet ministers brings the total count of cabinet-rank officials in the new West Bengal government, including CM Adhikari, to 19.
There remains the possibility of adding three more ministers. According to constitutional guidelines, the maximum size of the ministry is capped at 15 percent of the total seats in the state assembly. Given that the West Bengal Assembly has 294 seats, the cabinet can accommodate up to 44 members.
As the portfolio distribution is set to be revealed today, speculation arises regarding who will be assigned the vital finance and industry & commerce departments. CM Adhikari had previously emphasized that revitalizing the financially troubled state and formulating policies to attract significant investments would be key priorities for his administration.
Sources within the state BJP suggest that CM Adhikari may temporarily hold onto the finance portfolio until a well-regarded economist from Delhi is appointed as the new finance minister, following his election in the upcoming by-elections for the Nandigram Assembly seat in East Midnapore district.
In the recent West Bengal Assembly elections, Adhikari successfully contested and won from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur constituencies in South Kolkata. He defeated former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur by over 15,000 votes. Subsequently, he chose to retain his Assembly membership from Bhabanipur, making a by-election in Nandigram necessary.