BJP names Amlan Bhaduri as party's Chief Whip in Bengal assembly ahead of budget

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislative group has selected first-time MLA Amlan Bhaduri as its Chief Whip in the state assembly, just days before the first budget session of the government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari begins on Thursday. Sources within the state secretariat, Nabanna, confirmed that the file proposing the English Bazar legislator's name has been officially submitted for administrative approval. The decision has surprised many political observers who widely anticipated that an experienced lawmaker would be appointed to navigate the complexities of the upcoming legislative sessions.

This appointment highlights the BJP central leadership's ongoing strategy to reward North Bengal, a region that proved foundational to the party's rise to power in the state. The political rewards are visible across major parliamentary roles; Cooch Behar South MLA Rathindra Bose was previously selected as the Speaker, while several North Bengal legislators have assumed critical cabinet positions. These include Mathabhanga MLA Nisith Pramanik overseeing North Bengal Development, Tufanganj MLA Malati Rava Roy leading Women and Child Welfare, and Falakata MLA Dipak Barman heading School Education.

The regional arithmetic particularly favored Malda district, where the BJP secured victory in six out of twelve assembly seats. Prior to Bhaduri's selection, Habibpur MLA Jewel Murmu was the lone face from Malda in the ministry, serving as the Minister of State for Backward Classes. Elevating Bhaduri to the post of Chief Whip allows the BJP state leadership to balance regional representation while injecting younger leadership into a critical parliamentary office that dictates daily house dynamics.