Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata

Kolkata, May 31: West Bengal is poised to finalize its state government lineup on Monday morning. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that 35 new ministers will officially take their oaths of office at Lok Bhavan, bringing the state's cabinet up to its near-maximum capacity.

In a social media post shared Sunday, Adhikari confirmed the timeline, stating that the oath-taking ceremony will commence at 11 a.m., with Governor RN Ravi administering the oath to the incoming ministers.

The Road to a Complete Cabinet

The BJP formed its historic first government in West Bengal on May 4 after defeating the long-ruling Trinamool Congress. Following that victory, Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as Chief Minister on May 9 during a massive ceremony at the Brigade Parade Ground, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Only five other ministers took the oath alongside him at the time, leaving the government operating with a lean, six-member team for nearly a month.

The delayed expansion sparked weeks of intense political speculation. Deliberations culminated last week when Chief Minister Adhikari and BJP State President Samik Bhattacharya traveled to New Delhi for high-level strategy meetings with the party’s central leadership to finalize the roster.

Balancing Numbers and Regional Representation

With the addition of 35 new members, the total strength of the West Bengal cabinet will reach 41. This remains just under the strict constitutional ceiling, which dictates that a state's ministry cannot exceed 15 percent of its total legislative assembly. For West Bengal’s 294-seat house, the maximum allowed number of ministers is 44.

State BJP sources indicated that the weeks-long delay was a deliberate strategy to ensure a balanced government. Because the party secured widespread electoral support spanning almost every district, central leaders insisted on a meticulous selection process to grant fair geographical representation across the state.

While the 35 inductees are locked in, the Chief Minister has kept the specific names close to his chest, offering no public hints on which of the 208 elected BJP MLAs made the cut. Portfolio allocations are expected to be announced shortly after Monday's ceremony concludes.