In a historic shift for West Bengal, the state’s first BJP government has taken charge, with a familiar face standing out in the crowd. Agnimitra Paul, 51, is currently the only woman in the new cabinet. Sworn in alongside Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday, the former fashion designer has transitioned from the glamour of the runway to a powerful role in state governance. 

From Bollywood fabrics to the halls of power

Born in Asansol to a well-known paediatrician father and a homemaker mother, Paul’s roots are firmly middle-class. Her family originally pushed her towards a career in medicine or engineering. She even qualified for dentistry but chose to study Botany instead. However, her passion eventually led her to fashion technology and management.

In 1997, she launched her own label, “Inga”. Her career was a massive success. She dressed Bollywood legends like Sridevi, Hema Malini, and Mithun Chakraborty. She even showcased Bengal’s traditional Kantha work at Lakme Fashion Week and gifted handmade shawls to former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She is married to entrepreneur Partho Paul and is a mother of two sons.

A rapid rise and the race for leadership

Paul traded the catwalk for the campaign trail in 2019, joining the BJP and rising through the ranks with record speed. She positioned herself as a “daughter of the soil”, building a deep bond with voters in her hometown. As a two-time MLA from Asansol Dakshin, she recently secured her seat by defeating her TMC rival by over 40,000 votes.

Her influence grew so quickly that her name was seriously discussed as a potential candidate for Chief Minister before the party leadership chose Suvendu Adhikari. Despite her success, her political journey has seen conflict. She currently faces 23 criminal cases related to protests and unlawful assembly, though she has not been convicted of any crime. Now, as the lone female face in the cabinet, she represents a strategic move by the BJP to appeal to women voters across the state.