Is the purpose only to create message and atmosphere, why are the 5 ministers who took oath with Shubhendu not given big ministries?

After formation of BJP government in West Bengal CM Shubhendu Adhikari (Suvendu Adhikari) administered oath to only five ministers along with him and after that he also divided the departments. Now the biggest discussion is that why the leaders whom BJP presented as big faces of Bengal politics were not given powerful ministries like Home, Finance, Industry, Health or PWD. Leaders like Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul and Nishith Pramanik are considered politically important, yet the Chief Minister kept the most influential departments of the government with himself. This raises the question whether BJP currently wants to give only political message, social balance and organizational message. Whereas the real administrative control wants to be kept in the hands of the Chief Minister’s office only.

Most powerful ministry in Bengal government?

Home, Finance, Health, Industry, Public Works (PWD), Energy and Personnel departments are considered the most important in the Bengal government. These departments control administrative decisions, police machinery, government appointments and big projects. According to the government notification, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has kept a major part of these big departments with himself. This clearly indicates that BJP wants centralization of power in the initial phase of government in Bengal. The party perhaps does not want to take any administrative risk, hence control has been placed directly in the Chief Minister’s Office through a limited cabinet.

What message did you give by giving Panchayat department to Dilip Ghosh?

Dilip Ghosh has been given the department of Panchayat and Rural Development, Animal Husbandry and Agricultural Marketing. The Panchayat system is considered very important in the politics of Bengal, because it is the biggest medium of political influence in the villages.

By giving such a portfolio to Dilip Ghosh, BJP has given a clear indication that the party wants to strengthen its roots in rural Bengal. However, he did not get a big ministry like Home or Finance. One reason for this is also believed to be that Dilip Ghosh is a big face of the organization and the party wants to use him more in political expansion than in administration.

Why Agnimitra Paul in the Ministry of Women and Child Development?

Agnimitra Paul has been assigned the Department of Women and Child Development, Social Welfare and Urban Development. BJP had adopted a very aggressive strategy regarding women vote bank in Bengal elections.

By making Agnimitra Paul a minister, the party has given the message of taking women leadership forward. The Urban Development Department is linked to urban politics, hence this department is certainly politically important, but is not considered as powerful as the Finance or Home Ministry. It is clear from this that BJP is currently promoting faces, but does not want to share complete control of power.

Why North Bengal Development Ministry to Nishith Pramanik?

Nisith Pramanik has been given the North Bengal Development, Youth Welfare and Sports department. North Bengal is considered the strongest region of BJP and the party has been trying to create a separate political identity there for a long time.

By giving this responsibility to Nishith Pramanik, BJP has tried to maintain regional balance. However, he was not given a ministry of central importance. It seems that the party currently wants to use him as a regional leader and not include him in the power center of the government.

Which portfolios did Kshudiram Tudu and Ashok Kirtania get?

Kshudiram Tudu has got the departments of Tribal Development, Backward Class Welfare, Minority Affairs and Madrasa Education. This decision is believed to have been taken keeping in mind the tribal and social equations.

Ashok Kirtania has been given the Food and Supplies and Cooperation Department. The food department is directly connected to the public and has a big impact on the ration system. BJP wants to increase its acceptance among the poor and rural class through this department.

Has BJP given priority to message politics at present?

The initial picture of Shubhendu government in Bengal indicates that at present BJP has given more importance to “message politics”. North Bengal, tribal society, women leadership and rural organizations were given representation in the cabinet, but the most powerful ministries remained with the Chief Minister.

Political experts of West Bengal believe that BJP wants to run its first government in Bengal in a very controlled manner. Therefore, in the initial phase, big departments have been centralized, while the remaining leaders have been given responsibilities to maintain social and political balance.