Two days after Suvendu Adhikari took oath as Chief Minister of West Bengal along with five ministers, the first cabinet meeting was held on Monday at the state Secretariat, Nabanna. CM Adhikari thanked voters, government officials and the Election Commission of India (ECI) for a free and fair election and also paid tribute to the martyrs of political violence. Adhikari said the government will stand firmly by the martyrs’ families.
Six decisions were taken in the meeting, showing that the new BJP government in West Bengal means business and is wasting no time in delivering on promises. Adhikari called for good governance, security and a double-engine government.
“The first cabinet meeting with all concerned officials went well. We assure the people of Bengal that the double-engine government will complete all development-related works. Six decisions were taken during our first cabinet meeting,” said Suvendu Adhikari.
The decisions taken include:
1. Land transfer will be facilitated for border fencing at the Indo-Bangladesh border. This process will be facilitated by the Chief Secretary and the Land and Land Reforms Department to hand over land to the Border Security Force (BSF) within 45 days.
“In our very first Cabinet meeting today, we have taken the decision to transfer the land to the BSF. The process of transferring this land commences today. It will be transferred to the MHA within the next 45 days. Once this is accomplished, the BSF will complete the border fencing, and the ongoing issue of illegal infiltration will be resolved within a short period,” said Adhikari.
1. The process for the implementation of the Central government health scheme ‘Ayushman Bharat’ has begun. However, it is not clear what will happen to patients currently availing themselves of the Mamata Banerjee government’s ‘Swasthya Sathi’ scheme at various hospitals in the state. State government schemes announced by the Mamata government will continue, in addition to six Central government schemes to be implemented. These are the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Krishak Bima Yojana, PM SHRI, Vishwakarma Scheme, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and Ujjwala Yojana. District Magistrates (DMs) have been asked to forward applications to the Union Ministries concerned. The schemes are applicable to legal Indian citizens, and illegal infiltrators will not be permitted.
2. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) will replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
3. The government jobs age limit has been increased by five years to provide employment opportunities for youth.
4. IAS officers will participate in Central government training programmes similar to their counterparts in BJP-ruled states.
5. The June 16th 2025 census directive of the Union Home Ministry, ignored by the Mamata government, will be processed.
The next cabinet meeting is scheduled for the following Monday. Adhikari spoke, and the five cabinet ministers — Agnimitra Paul, Dilip Ghosh, Nishit Pramanik, Khudiram Tudu and Ashoke Kirtania — stood together in a show of strength to address the media soon after the meeting concluded.
With these announcements, the new government is trying to project a serious image beyond the politics of winning elections and deliver on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Sonar Bangla’ dream. The government is currently operating from Nabanna, which has been the state secretariat since 2013, when Mamata Banerjee orchestrated the move from the 250-year-old Writers’ Building, the quintessential state secretariat since the era of the East India Company. With renovation underway, the new government hopes to move back to Writers’ Building within a few months, to relive the glory that weaves through the history of West Bengal.
