India, May 9 -- From the forests and tribal belts of Jangalmahal to the front row of West Bengal's first BJP government, Kshudiram Tudu has emerged as one of the key tribal faces in chief minister Suvendu Adhikari's cabinet.

Tudu was sworn in as a minister on Friday alongside senior BJP leaders Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Ashok Kirtania and Nisith Pramanik, as the BJP formed its first-ever government in West Bengal.

A first-time MLA, the 55-year-old BJP leader won the Ranibandh (ST) seat in Bankura district with a massive margin of more than 52,000 votes, defeating the Trinamool Congress candidate in one of Bengal's key tribal constituencies. His victory was seen as part of the BJP's strong performance in the Jangalmahal region, where ...