What Major Decisions Did West Bengal's New CM Suvendu Adhikari Make in His First Cabinet Meeting?

Key Initiatives Announced by CM Suvendu Adhikari

Kolkata: In his inaugural cabinet meeting on Monday, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced significant initiatives, including the transfer of land to the Border Security Force (BSF) for constructing a fence along the Bangladesh border. Additionally, he confirmed the immediate commencement of the Census process in the state.

The meeting, which included the five ministers who have taken their oaths so far, also resolved to integrate West Bengal into various central government programs, notably the Ayushman Bharat health initiative.

The Ayushman Bharat scheme is designed to offer cashless hospitalization coverage of up to Rs 5,00,000 per family annually for secondary and tertiary healthcare services to economically disadvantaged families.

Adhikari emphasized the need for this initiative, stating, "Given the changing demographics in Bengal's border areas, our cabinet has approved the necessary land transfer to the BSF for border fencing. The Chief Secretary and the Secretary of the state's land revenue department have been instructed to finalize this transfer within 45 days."

He criticized the previous administration led by Mamata Banerjee for neglecting a circular from the Office of the Registrar General of India, dated June 16, 2025, which informed the state about the upcoming Census.

Adhikari accused the TMC government of undermining the Constitution and the public by delaying the Census to obstruct women's reservation. He confirmed that the cabinet has authorized the immediate implementation of the Census in West Bengal.

Furthermore, the Chief Minister claimed that the new criminal law, the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), which replaces the old IPC and CrPC, was not officially enacted by the TMC government. He announced that the first cabinet meeting has now granted official approval for this new law to take effect.