Suvendu Adhikari retains key portfolios as Bengal govt announces ministerial department allocation

The BJP government in West Bengal on Wednesday announced the allocation of portfolios among members of the newly constituted Council of Ministers, with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari retaining charge of several crucial departments, including Home and Hill Affairs, Power, Land and Land Reforms, Information and Cultural Affairs, and Personnel and Administrative Reforms.

A notification was issued by the Home and Hill Affairs Department from Nabanna on Wednesday.

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Among the key appointments, former Rajya Sabha member Swapan Dasgupta has been entrusted with the Finance Department, one of the most important portfolios in the government.

Jagannath Chattopadhyay has been given charge of the Higher Education and Technical Education, Training and Skill Development Department, placing him at the helm of the state’s university and higher education sector.

Dr Sharadwat Mukherjee will head the Health and Family Welfare Department.

Kalyan Chakraborti has been assigned the Information Technology and Electronics Department, Science and Technology and Biotechnology Department, and the Food Processing Industries and Horticulture Department.

Tapas Roy has been allotted the Departments of Industry, Commerce and Enterprises, Public Enterprises and Industrial Reconstruction, and Non-Conventional and Renewable Energy Sources. Dr Shankar Ghosh has been entrusted with the Parliamentary Affairs and Tourism departments.

Manoj Kumar Oraon has been given charge of the Forests and Environment departments, while Arjun Singh will oversee the Labour and Transport departments. Gouri Sankar Ghosh has been assigned the Backward Classes Welfare Department and the Department of Mass Education Extension and Library Services.

Arup Kumar Das has been entrusted with the Irrigation and Waterways Department, while Ajay Kumar Poddar will head the Public Health Engineering and Public Works departments.

Dudh Kumar Mondal has been given charge of the Agriculture Department.

The notification also named three Ministers of State with Independent Charge.

Malati Rava Roy will oversee the Departments of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare, Self Help Group and Self Employment, and Programme Monitoring.

Rajesh Mahata has been assigned the Animal Resources Development and Fisheries departments, while Dr Indranil Khan will head the Youth Services and Sports and Consumer Affairs departments.

The government also appointed 19 Ministers of State to assist cabinet ministers across key sectors.

Joyel Murmu will assist in the Tribal Development and Irrigation and Waterways departments, while Dr Hare Krishna Bera has been attached to Higher Education and Technical Education, Training and Skill Development.

Anandamay Barman has been assigned to the Transport and Finance departments, and Ashoke Dinda will assist the Agricultural Marketing and MSME and Textiles departments. Nadiar Chand Bouri has been attached to the Public Works and Backward Classes Welfare departments.

Bishal Lama will assist the Home and Hill Affairs, Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education departments, while Santanu Pramanik has been assigned to Food and Supplies and Panchayats and Rural Development.

Moumita Biswas Misra will assist the Industry, Commerce and Enterprises Department as well as the Science and Technology and Biotechnology Department. Umesh Rai has been attached to Parliamentary Affairs and Urban Development and Municipal Affairs.

Purnima Chakraborty has been given responsibility in the Information and Cultural Affairs Department and the Tourism Department, placing her in two departments that play a key role in the state’s outreach, cultural promotion and tourism development initiatives.

Koushik Chowdhury will assist the School Education Department and the Fire and Emergency Services Department. Bhaskar Bhattacharya has been attached to the Public Health Engineering and Labour departments, while Dibakar Garami will assist the Co-operation, Forests and Environment departments.

Amiya Kisku has been assigned to the Food Processing Industries and Horticulture Department and the Agriculture Department. Kalita Maji will assist the Housing Department, while Gargi Das Ghosh has been attached to the Power Department and the Department of Non-Conventional and Renewable Energy Sources.

Biraj Biswas a lwyer by profession has been assigned responsibilities in the Law Department, Judicial Department and North Bengal Development Department. Dipankar Jana will assist the Land and Land Reforms and Refugee Relief and Rehabilitation Department as well as the Sundarban Affairs Department.

Sumana Sarkar has been attached to the Health and Family Welfare Department and will assist Minister Dr Sharadwat Mukherjee in overseeing the state’s healthcare administration.