West Bengal Cabinet Expands with 35 BJP MLAs Sworn In

The Suvendu Adhikari-led government in West Bengal significantly expanded its cabinet with 35 BJP MLAs taking oath as ministers. Among them were Tapas Roy, Shankar Ghosh, and Swapan Dasgupta. The ceremony took place at the Lok Bhavan, with Governor RN Ravi administering the oath.

This cabinet expansion follows three weeks after Suvendu Adhikari was appointed as chief minister. The newly inducted ministers swelled the cabinet strength to 41, just three below the state's maximum allowance. This development comes after BJP's sweeping victory, capturing 208 of the 294 assembly seats and ending 15 years of Trinamool Congress governance.

Key figures such as Swapan Dasgupta and Tapas Roy joined as cabinet ministers, while others took positions as ministers of state. The expansion was anticipated this week, with prior meetings at New Delhi between Adhikari, state BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya, and central party leaders regarding the new council members.

(With inputs from agencies.)