PM Modi adviser Sanjeev Sanyal frontrunner for Bengal Finance Minister: Report

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari along with five other ministers took oath at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata on May 9.

Within days, Adhikari distributed portfolios among his colleagues while retaining the Home Department himself.

Speculation over Finance Minister post

With economist and former BJP MLA Ashok Lahiri joining the NITI Aayog, speculation had grown over newly-elected lawmaker Swapan Dasgupta taking charge as the Finance Minister. However, that possibility now appears to be fading.

Amid the delay, a new name has emerged as the frontrunner for the crucial portfolio.

According to a report by The Telegraph, Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, is likely to be inducted into the Bengal cabinet as the Finance Minister.

Sanyal’s possible entry into Bengal Assembly

Born in Kolkata (then Calcutta), Sanyal completed his MSc in Economics in 1994.

If inducted into the cabinet, he will have to get elected to the Assembly from one of the state’s 294 constituencies within six months of assuming office.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who won from two constituencies, retained the prestigious Bhabanipur seat and resigned as MLA from Nandigram, potentially paving the way for Sanyal’s entry into the Assembly.

However, reports suggest BJP leaders in Nandigram are pushing for a local candidate, which could create hurdles for Sanyal’s contest from the constituency.

Presence at swearing-in fuels buzz

Speculation around Sanyal’s possible induction intensified after he attended Adhikari’s swearing-in ceremony in Kolkata on May 9.

Dressed in traditional Bengali attire, Sanyal was present at the event along with his wife.

When recently asked about the cabinet expansion, BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya avoided making any direct comment.

“I feel happy that people are now interested about BJP’s cabinet expansion in West Bengal. It’s a proud moment for me as the president,” Bhattacharya said.

BJP’s preference for technocrats

The BJP, which stormed to power in West Bengal in 2026 with 207 seats, has a history of appointing former bureaucrats and technocrats to key ministerial roles.

Former diplomat S Jaishankar was appointed External Affairs Minister by the Narendra Modi government in 2019.

Another retired diplomat, Hardeep Singh Puri, currently serves as the Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas.