Kolkata: The new West Bengal government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday announced the first major cabinet portfolio allocation, with five senior BJP leaders getting charge of key departments days after the BJP’s massive victory in the 2026 Assembly election.

Senior BJP leader Dilip Ghosh has been given charge of the Rural Development, Panchayats and Animal Resources Development Department, one of the most politically significant ministries in the state due to its direct link with rural governance and welfare schemes.

According to the official allocation list:

Dilip Ghosh — Rural Development, Panchayats and Animal Resources Development

Ashok Kirtania — Food Department

Khudiram Tudu — Backward Class Welfare Department

Agnimitra Paul — Women and Child Welfare Department

Nisith Pramanik — North Bengal Development, Sports and Youth Welfare

The cabinet expansion and portfolio distribution came shortly after Suvendu Adhikari chaired his first Cabinet meeting as Chief Minister following his oath-taking ceremony on May 9.

What were Suvendu Adhikari government’s first major decisions?

Alongside the portfolio announcement, the new BJP government unveiled a series of major administrative and policy decisions during its first Cabinet meeting.

One of the biggest decisions was the approval for transferring land to the Border Security Force (BSF) for fencing the India-Bangladesh border. The Chief Minister said the land transfer process would be completed within 45 days and would help curb illegal infiltration.

The Cabinet also approved the implementation of Ayushman Bharat and other flagship Central government welfare schemes in West Bengal. These include:

  • Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana
  • PM SHRI
  • Vishwakarma Scheme
  • Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
  • Ujjwala Yojana
  • Pradhan Mantri Krishak Bima Yojana

District Magistrates have been instructed to speed up applications linked to these schemes and coordinate directly with Union Ministries.

What other big administrative changes were announced?

The Adhikari government also announced several governance reforms and bureaucratic changes after assuming office.

The state government said IAS officers in Bengal will now participate in Central government training programmes in line with practices followed in other states. The government also decided to fully align the state with the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

In another major decision aimed at boosting employment opportunities, the upper age limit for government job applications has been increased by five years.

The government additionally ordered the immediate removal of nominated chairpersons, directors and members from non-statutory boards, organisations and state-run PSUs. Officials serving on re-employment or extension beyond the retirement age of 60 have also been removed.

Meanwhile, Manoj Kumar Agarwal has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary of West Bengal. A 1990-batch IAS officer, Agarwal earlier served as the Chief Electoral Officer during the Assembly elections.

The BJP registered a landslide victory in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election by winning 206 seats in the 294-member Assembly, while the All India Trinamool Congress was reduced to 80 seats.

With ANI inputs