Bengal Cabinet expansion, new ministers to take oath tomorrow at 11 am

One month after the formation of the new government in West Bengal, the deadlock over the expansion of the state cabinet is finally expected to resolve. Currently, the ministry is operating with only five sworn-in members, leaving a significant number of portfolios vacant. The much-anticipated expansion is taking place tomorrow, Monday, bringing the total strength of the cabinet to approximately 33 members. This move aims to streamline governance and distribute administrative responsibilities that have remained centralized since the swearing-in ceremony.

Among the prominent names circulating for key roles is veteran leader Swapan Dasgupta, who won the Rash Behari seat. Speculation is high that he will be appointed as the Education Minister, a role he is already unofficially overseeing under the direction of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Another heavyweight in contention is Tapas Roy, the Maniktala MLA and current pro-tem speaker. Having successfully managed the assembly proceedings and the swearing-in of new legislators, Roy is widely expected to be rewarded with an important ministerial portfolio in the upcoming reshuffle.

The potential list of new ministers also features a diverse mix of seasoned politicians and fresh faces, including Shankar Ghosh, Rudranil Ghosh, Rupa Gangopadhyay, and Ashok Dinda. The expansion is seen as a strategic move to ensure representation across various sectors and regions. So far, the heavy lifting has been done by the initial five ministers: Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Nisith Pramanik, Ashok Kirtania, and Khudiram Tudu, who have been managing multiple high-priority departments ranging from Panchayat and Rural Development to North Bengal Development and Minority Affairs.