Suvendu Adhikari’s Maiden Cabinet Takes Shape: Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul Among Five Senior BJP Leaders Sworn In Alongside Bengal’s New CM

Suvendu Adhikari wasn’t the only one sworn in at the grand ceremony in Kolkata’s iconic Brigade Parade Ground on Saturday. The initial shape of his council of ministers was evident as five prominent party leaders were also sworn in by Governor R.N. Ravi. 

The current cabinet is deliberately small - comprising only six members including the Chief Minister - leaving ample room for expansion. The West Bengal Council of Ministers can have a maximum strength of 44, and party sources indicated that more inductions are expected in the coming days or weeks to ensure wider representation across regions and communities.

Here is the complete list of ministers who took oath today:

Dilip Ghosh: A veteran BJP leader and former state unit president, Ghosh is widely credited with building the party’s grassroots network in Bengal. He previously served as Lok Sabha MP from Medinipur and won the Kharagpur Sadar Assembly seat in the 2026 elections. His vast organisational experience and strong RSS background make him one of the most influential figures in the new government.

Agnimitra Paul: The only woman minister in this initial list, Paul is a fashion designer-turned-politician who has risen rapidly within the BJP. She represents the Asansol Dakshin constituency, has led the party’s Mahila Morcha, and was appointed vice-president of BJP Bengal earlier this year. Her induction is being seen as a step towards women’s representation in the cabinet.

Ashok Kirtania: MLA from Bangaon Uttar in North 24 Parganas, Kirtania hails from the influential Matua community belt. His presence is viewed as a strategic outreach to Namasudra and refugee voters who played a key role in the BJP’s electoral success in the region.

Kshudiram Tudu: A prominent tribal leader from Ranibandh (ST) constituency in Bankura district, Tudu represents the Jungle Mahal area. His inclusion underscores the party’s focus on strengthening ties with Scheduled Tribe communities in the western districts of the state.

Nisith Pramanik: A young face from North Bengal, Pramanik represents Mathabhanga in Cooch Behar and enjoys strong support among the Rajbanshi community. A former Union Minister of State, he brings both administrative experience and appeal among youth and northern Bengal voters.

Portfolios for the new ministers have not been announced yet. According to sources close to the leadership, the selections reflect a careful mix of experience, regional balance (covering South Bengal, North Bengal, and the Jangalmahal), and social engineering aimed at consolidating the BJP’s diverse support base.

This compact six-member cabinet is being described as a “core team” that will steer the government in its initial phase while the party prepares for a fuller expansion. With the BJP securing a decisive mandate in the 2026 Assembly polls, all eyes are now on how quickly the Adhikari government expands its team and assigns key departments to deliver on its poll promises.