Swapan Dasgupta gets finance in Suvendu Cabinet

The West Bengal Government on Wednesday allocated portfolios to the newly sworn-in ministers, with journalist-turned-politician Swapan Dasgupta entrusted with the key Finance Department. Dasgupta, who represents the Rashbehari Assembly constituency, was earlier nominated to the Rajya Sabha.

Portfolios were distributed among 13 Cabinet Ministers and 22 Ministers of State, including three with independent charge. The allocation follows the Cabinet expansion on June 1, when 35 ministers were sworn in.

Among Cabinet Ministers, Jagannath Chattopadhyay will head Higher Education and Technical Education, while Khardaha MLA Kalyan Chakraborti has been given Information Technology and Electronics. Bidhannagar MLA Sharadwat Mukherjee will oversee Health and Family Welfare, Kanthi Dakshin MLA Arup Kumar Das will manage Irrigation and Waterways, Ajay Kumar Poddar has been assigned Public Works, and Dudh Kumar Mondal will lead Agriculture.

Ministers of State with independent charge include Malati Rava Roy (Women and Child Development and Social Welfare), Indranil Khan (Youth Services and Sports), and Rajesh Mahata (Animal Resources Development and Fisheries).

Among Ministers of State, Joyel Murmu will handle Tribal Affairs and Irrigation & Waterways, Hare Krishna Bera will oversee Higher Education and Technical Education, Anandamay Barman has been given Transport and Finance, and Ashok Dinda will manage Agriculture Marketing, MSME and Textiles. Nadiar Chand Bouri will look after Backward Classes Welfare, Bishal Lama will oversee Home and Hill Affairs, Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education, Umesh Rai will handle Parliamentary Affairs, and Koushik Chowdhury will manage School Education and Fire & Emergency Services. Kalita Maji has been assigned Housing, Biraj Biswas will oversee Law, Judicial and North Bengal Development, while Dipankar Jana will manage Land and Land Reforms along with Refugee Relief and Rehabilitation.