West Bengal BJP government is set to expand its cabinet on June 1, with 35 new ministers scheduled to take oath at Lok Bhavan. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari aims to establish a full-fledged administration with broader regional representation after the BJP’s historic electoral victory in the state.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in West Bengal is set to undergo a major cabinet expansion on Monday, with 35 new ministers scheduled to take oath at Lok Bhavan. The move will mark the formal completion of the state’s first full-fledged BJP cabinet following the party’s historic victory in the Assembly elections.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari confirmed the development through a social media post on Sunday, stating that the cabinet expansion ceremony would begin at 11 a.m. at Lok Bhavan. According to the announcement, Governor RN Ravi will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the incoming ministers.
In his message, Adhikari said that the full cabinet of the nationalist government elected by the people of West Bengal would be formed through the induction of 35 ministers. The expansion is being viewed as a significant step in strengthening the new administration and ensuring representation from various regions across the state.
The BJP created history on May 4 by defeating the Trinamool Congress and securing power in West Bengal for the first time. Following the election victory, Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as Chief Minister on May 9 at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the ceremony, during which five other ministers also took oath alongside the Chief Minister.
Since then, political observers and party workers have closely followed developments surrounding the cabinet expansion. Discussions intensified over the composition of the ministry, with speculation growing regarding the inclusion of legislators from different districts and communities.
Last week, Chief Minister Adhikari and BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya held separate meetings with the party’s central leadership in New Delhi. These consultations reportedly focused on finalizing the list of ministers and ensuring balanced representation within the government.
According to sources within the BJP, the delay in forming the complete cabinet was primarily due to the party leadership’s effort to accommodate representatives from nearly all regions of West Bengal. The BJP secured substantial electoral support across multiple districts, prompting leaders to consider regional aspirations while preparing the ministerial list.
Following Monday’s induction ceremony, the strength of the cabinet is expected to rise to 41 members, including the Chief Minister. At present, the state government consists of six members, comprising Adhikari and five ministers who took oath earlier in May.
Constitutional provisions permit a state ministry to have a maximum strength of 15 percent of the total number of legislators in the Assembly. With the West Bengal Legislative Assembly consisting of 294 members, the state can legally accommodate up to 44 ministers. The proposed cabinet strength of 41 would therefore remain within the constitutional limit.
While the oath-taking ceremony has been officially confirmed, the identities of the BJP legislators who will be inducted into the ministry remain undisclosed. Party leaders have maintained secrecy regarding the final list, keeping political circles guessing until the formal announcement.
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Sources indicate that Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is likely to allocate departmental portfolios shortly after the swearing-in ceremony. The formation of the expanded cabinet is expected to provide administrative momentum to the BJP government as it begins implementing its policy agenda across West Bengal.
