Portfolios of four ministers changed

The allocation of portfolios in the expanded Cabinet of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari saw three ministers, who had been assigned multiple departments earlier, shed some of the load today.

However, one minister was relieved of a ministry, but simultaneously got an additional responsibility.

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It may be recalled that five ministers had taken oath alongside Adhikari on 9 May, when the first BJP government in the state took office in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the iconic Brigade Parade ground here.

Among them, veteran leader Dilip Ghosh had been entrusted with the panchayat and rural development department along with animal resources development and agricultural marketing. Now, Ghosh has been relieved of the animal resources development portfolio, which has been handed to Rajesh Mahata.

Noted fashion designer-turned politician Agnimitra Paul was so far heading the urban development and municipal affairs department, besides women & child development and social welfare. Malati Rava Roy, the veteran BJP leader and MLA of Tufanganj, will henceforth look after women & child development and social welfare.

Kshudiram Tudu, a tribal leader of the BJP, would also have a reduced workload, with the Backward Classes welfare department being allocated to Cabinet minister Gouri Sankar Ghosh. Tudu is now left with the tribal development department along with and minority affairs & madrasha education portfolios.

However, there is a slight variation as far as Nishith Pramanik is concerned. Pramanik, who won the recent Assembly election from Mathabhanga, would continue to be the minister for north Bengal development, while the ministry of youth services & sports, earlier given to him, would now be the responsibility of Indranil Khan. But Pramanik was on Wednesday allotted an additional ministry in the form of water resources investigation and development.

Mahata, Roy and Khan ~ all have the rank of minister of state (independent charge).

Ashok Kirtania is the only one from the first lot of ministers whose portfolio has not been tinkered with. He would continue as the minister for food and supplies and co-operation departments.