Kolkata: West Bengal is set for a major Cabinet expansion today, with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announcing that 35 ministers will be inducted into the state government. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place at Nabanna at 11 a.m., where Governor R. N. Ravi will administer the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers.
The expansion marks the most significant reshuffle since the formation of the new government earlier this month. According to the Chief Minister, the induction of the ministers will pave the way for the formation of a full-fledged Council of Ministers to oversee the administration of the state.
In a message posted on social media, Adhikari said the people of West Bengal had given a mandate for a new government and that the expanded Cabinet would help accelerate governance and policy implementation across departments. Senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are expected to receive key portfolios in the new ministry, although the final allocation of departments is likely to be announced after the swearing-in ceremony.
The Cabinet expansion comes at a time when the state government is preparing to roll out several new administrative initiatives. Recently, the Cabinet approved the formation of two commissions—one to investigate institutional corruption and another to address crimes and atrocities against women. Both bodies are to be headed by retired judges of the Calcutta High Court and are expected to begin functioning from June 1.
Political observers view today's expansion as a crucial step in strengthening the government's administrative structure. The West Bengal Cabinet has the capacity to accommodate a much larger number of ministers, and the inclusion of 35 new members is expected to bring representation from different regions and communities across the state.
Security and logistical arrangements have been put in place at Nabanna ahead of the ceremony, with senior political leaders, government officials, and party workers expected to attend the event. The newly inducted ministers are likely to assume charge of their respective departments soon after taking oath.
With the Cabinet expansion, the state government aims to strengthen governance, improve administrative efficiency, and accelerate the implementation of its policy agenda across West Bengal.
