- By Surarika Das
- Sat, 09 May 2026 01:05 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kshudiram Tudu was sworn in as a cabinet minister in the Suvendu Adhikari-led government on Saturday. He has been playing a key role in the party and has emerged as a prominent leader among the tribals. He has taken the oath at the historic Parade Ground on Saturday. Along with him, five other people were sworn in. Suvendu Adhikary was designated as the Chief Minister of West Bengal, while Agnimitra Paul and Dilip Ghosh formed part of the cabinet. Other notable leaders who emerged as cabinet ministers are Nishith Pramanik and Ashok Kirtana.
Who is Kshudiram Tudu?
Kshudiram Tudu is a tribal leader from West Bengal's Bankura district. He represents the Ranibandh constituency, a tribal-dominated constituency in Jangalmahal. He is considered a prominent tribal leader in Bengal. He won the Raniganj seat in the recently concluded assembly elections by a margin of over 52,000 votes.
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The 55-year-old first-time MLA defeated the Trinamool Congress candidate in one of Bengal's key tribal constituencies. Kudu's win is seen as one of the best performances in the Jangalmajal region. The saffron party wielded deep connections among tribal voters in the area.
Tudu represents the Ranibandh constituency, a Scheduled Tribe-reserved seat in the tribal-dominated Bankura belt that has been a major politically active part in Bengal elections. His induction into the cabinet is being viewed as the BJP’s attempt to gain its tribal outreach in the state after sweeping large parts of western Bengal.
As per the election affidavit, Tudu is a graduate and has assets worth around Rs 23 lakh. The tribal candidate carries no criminal records, as the official details provided.
Even as Tudu has been maintaining a low profile compared to some of the BJP’s bigger Bengal faces, Tudu’s rise reflects the party’s growing dependence on grassroots tribal leaders in regions such as Bankura, Purulia, and Jhargram, where the BJP has steadily expanded its support base over the last few election cycles.
His appointment also highlights the political significance of tribal representation in the new Bengal cabinet, especially after the BJP’s aggressive campaign in Jangalmahal focused on welfare delivery, tribal identity, and allegations of neglect under the previous Trinamool Congress government.