THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Kolkata, June 10: The West Bengal government on Wednesday allocated portfolios among its newly sworn-in ministers, with Swapan Dasgupta being entrusted with the crucial Finance Department, one of the most important assignments in the state administration.
The portfolio distribution covers 13 Cabinet ministers and 22 ministers of state, including three ministers of state with independent charge, completing the exercise a day after the ministers took the oath.
Finance Portfolio for Swapan Dasgupta
The decision to hand the Finance Department to Swapan Dasgupta places him at the centre of the state’s fiscal management and policy implementation. The department will be responsible for overseeing revenue mobilisation, expenditure management and funding of the government’s welfare and infrastructure programmes.
The allocation is being seen as one of the most significant decisions in the new ministry, given the importance of financial planning in the run-up to major development initiatives.
Key Portfolios Assigned
Among the ministers of state, Sumana Sarkar has been assigned Health and Family Welfare, while Koushik Chowdhury will oversee School Education along with Fire and Emergency Services.
Purnima Chakraborty has been given charge of Information and Cultural Affairs and Tourism, while Umesh Rai will handle Parliamentary Affairs and Urban Development and Municipal Affairs.
Other important allocations include:
- Anandamay Barman – Finance and Transport
- Ashok Dinda – Agricultural Marketing; Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) and Textiles
- Bishal Lama – Home and Hill Affairs; Minority Affairs and Madrasa Education
- Santanu Pramanik – Food and Supplies; Panchayat and Rural Development
- Moumita Biwas Misra – Industry, Commerce and Enterprises; Science and Technology and Biotechnology
- Joyel Murmu – Tribal Development; Irrigation and Waterways
- Dipankar Jana – Land and Land Reforms; Refugee Relief and Rehabilitation; Sundarban Affairs
- Gargi Das Ghosh – Power; Non-Conventional and Renewable Energy Sources
- Biraj Biswas – Law; Judicial; North Bengal Development
- Bhaskar Bhattacharya – Public Health Engineering; Labour
- Dibakar Gharami – Co-operation; Forests; Environment
- Kalita Maji – Housing
- Amiya Kisku – Food Processing Industries and Horticulture; Agriculture
Independent Charge Ministers
Three ministers of state have been given independent charge portfolios:
- Rajesh Mahata – Animal Resources Development and Fisheries
- Dr Indranil Khan – Youth Services and Sports; Consumer Affairs
- Hare Krishna Bera – Higher Education and Technical Education, Training and Skill Development
Focus on Governance and Regional Development
The distribution of portfolios reflects the government’s focus on strengthening key sectors such as health, education, agriculture, industry, infrastructure and rural development.
Special attention has also been given to region-specific departments, including Sundarban Affairs, Hill Affairs, North Bengal Development and Tribal Development, indicating an effort to address local governance priorities across different parts of the state.
With portfolios now allocated, the new ministers are expected to assume charge of their departments immediately and begin implementing the government’s administrative and development agenda.