Mithun Chakraborty appointed Advisor to West Bengal Info & Cultural Affairs Dept
Synopsis
Veteran actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty has been appointed Advisor to West Bengal's Information & Cultural Affairs Department with Cabinet Minister-level status — a significant political move by the BJP-led state government to harness one of Bengal's biggest cultural icons, just as the party seeks to cement its hold over the state.
Key Takeaways
Mithun Chakraborty was officially appointed Advisor to the West Bengal Information & Cultural Affairs Department on 7 October 2026 .
The post carries a status equivalent to a state Cabinet Minister and takes immediate effect until further orders.
The notification was signed by Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agrawal and made by order of the Governor .
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari , who holds charge of the department, had hinted at the appointment last month at an Uttam Kumar birth centenary event.
Chakraborty, a former TMC Rajya Sabha member , quit the party and parliament over the Saradha and Rose Valley chit fund controversies before joining the BJP .
The notification does not specify what responsibilities Chakraborty will perform in his advisory role.
Mithun Chakraborty, the veteran actor and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, was officially appointed on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, as Advisor to the West Bengal Information & Cultural Affairs Department. The appointment, issued through a formal state government notification, carries a status equivalent to that of a state Cabinet Minister and takes immediate effect until further orders.
What the Notification Says
The official notification was signed by West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar Agrawal and states that Chakraborty's appointment was made by order of the Governor and with the approval of competent authorities. However, the notification does not specify the precise responsibilities Chakraborty will carry out in his advisory role, leaving the scope of his duties unclear for now.
The Political Background
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who personally holds charge of the Information & Cultural Affairs Department, had signalled the appointment last month while addressing a programme marking the birth centenary of legendary Bengali screen icon Uttam Kumar. The formal notification issued Wednesday evening confirmed what had been anticipated for several weeks.
From Trinamool to BJP: Chakraborty's Political Journey
Chakraborty was formerly a Rajya Sabha member affiliated with the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). He severed all ties with the party and resigned from the Rajya Sabha after several TMC leaders were named in the high-profile, multi-crore Saradha and Rose Valley chit fund controversies. He subsequently joined the BJP and has since been an active campaigner for the party, playing a prominent role in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections.
What This Appointment Means
The role places Chakraborty — one of Bengal's most recognisable cultural figures — at the helm of a department that shapes the state's cultural narrative and public communications. The move is seen as a deliberate attempt by the BJP-led state government to deploy his mass appeal and cultural credibility in an advisory capacity. This comes amid the party's continued effort to consolidate its position in West Bengal, a state it wrested from the TMC in the assembly polls earlier this year. The exact contours of Chakraborty's role are expected to be clarified through subsequent orders.
Point of View
Which is a telling omission. In a state where cultural identity is deeply intertwined with political legitimacy, deploying a screen legend in this role signals the party's intent to compete on Bengal's own cultural terrain. Whether Chakraborty's advisory role translates into substantive policy influence or remains ceremonial will be the real test of this appointment.
NationPress
7 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mithun Chakraborty's new role in West Bengal?
Mithun Chakraborty has been appointed Advisor to the West Bengal Information & Cultural Affairs Department, effective 7 October 2026. The post carries a status equivalent to that of a state Cabinet Minister and remains in force until further orders.
Who heads the West Bengal Information & Cultural Affairs Department?
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari personally holds charge of the Information & Cultural Affairs Department. Chakraborty's advisory role operates within the department under Adhikari's oversight.
What will Mithun Chakraborty's responsibilities be as Advisor?
The official notification does not specify the exact responsibilities Chakraborty will perform. Further orders are expected to clarify the scope of his duties in the advisory role.
How did Mithun Chakraborty shift from Trinamool Congress to BJP?
Chakraborty, a former Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member, resigned from the party and from parliament after several TMC leaders were named in the multi-crore Saradha and Rose Valley chit fund controversies. He subsequently joined the BJP and has been an active campaigner, most recently during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the West Bengal Assembly elections.
When was the appointment first signalled?
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari indicated the appointment last month while addressing a programme marking the birth centenary of Bengali screen legend Uttam Kumar. The formal notification was issued by the state government on Wednesday evening, 7 October 2026.
