Kolkata, May 11 -- The newly formed BJP government in West Bengal on Monday allocated portfolios to the first batch of five ministers inducted alongside Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, while also appointing Manoj Agarwal, posted as Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer, as the state's Chief Secretary.
The portfolios were announced after the inaugural Cabinet meeting at Nabanna.
Senior BJP leader Dilip Ghosh, a former state party president and MLA from Kharagpur Sadar, was entrusted with Panchayat and Rural Development, Animal Resource Development and Agricultural Marketing. The departments are considered key to the government's rural strategy, particularly in strengthening panchayat administration and agricultural support systems.
Agnimitra Paul, MLA from Asansol North and one of the BJP's prominent women leaders in Bengal, was assigned Women and Child Development and Social Welfare along with Municipal Affairs. The move is being seen as significant given the party's emphasis on women-focused governance initiatives. Ashok Kirtania, MLA from Bongaon North, received the Food and Supplies department along with Co-operation. The ministry plays a central role in the public distribution system and ration network across the state.
Kshudiram Tudu, who represents Ranibandh, was given charge of Tribal Development, Backward Classes Welfare and Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education, placing him at the helm of several departments linked to social welfare and community outreach.
Former Union minister and Mathabhanga MLA Nisith Pramanik was allotted North Bengal Development and Youth Services and Sports. The assignment underlines the government's political and administrative focus on North Bengal, where the BJP has maintained considerable support in recent years.
The remaining departments will be overseen by Chief Minister Adhikari for the time being, according to the official announcement.
Meanwhile, the state government appointed Manoj Kumar Agarwal as the new Chief Secretary of West Bengal. Agarwal, a 1990-batch IAS officer who was serving as the Chief Electoral Officer and ex-officio Additional Chief Secretary in the Home and Hill Affairs Department, will hold the post until further orders.
Outgoing Chief Secretary Dushyant Nariala, a 1993-batch IAS officer, was appointed Principal Resident Commissioner in New Delhi in the rank of Additional Chief Secretary. The appointments were announced through official notifications issued by the Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department on Monday.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.