Mithun Chakraborty Appointed Bengal Government Advisor With Cabinet Minister Rank

Veteran actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty has been appointed Advisor to the West Bengal government’s Information and Cultural Affairs Department, with the status of a Cabinet Minister.

The state government issued a notification on Wednesday, stating that the appointment takes immediate effect and will remain in force until further orders. The notification, issued by the Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department, said the appointment was made by order of the Governor and with the approval of the competent authorities.

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who holds the Information and Cultural Affairs portfolio, had indicated last month that Chakraborty would be given a formal role in the state’s cultural affairs. The announcement came during programmes marking the birth centenary of Bengali cinema legend Uttam Kumar.

The government notification, however, does not specify the exact responsibilities Chakraborty will undertake as an advisor. His role and scope of work are expected to become clearer as he takes charge.

Chakraborty, one of the most prominent names in Bengali and Hindi cinema, has maintained a strong association with West Bengal’s film and cultural landscape throughout his career. His appointment comes at a time when the state government has been focusing on strengthening film and cultural infrastructure.

The actor was earlier associated with the Trinamool Congress and served as a party Rajya Sabha member after being nominated to the Upper House in 2014. He resigned from the Rajya Sabha in 2016. He subsequently joined the BJP in 2021 and emerged as one of the party’s prominent campaigners in West Bengal.

Chakraborty campaigned extensively for the BJP during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.

His new appointment follows the state government’s initiatives linked to Uttam Kumar’s centenary, including the foundation of the Uttam Kumar Film Centre in Kolkata’s New Town area. The government has also announced plans to strengthen film-related infrastructure and support the state’s cultural and cinematic ecosystem.

Chakraborty has also been consulted by the state government on cultural matters, including the Uttam Kumar centenary celebrations. He is currently in Alipurduar for a film shoot, according to reports.

With the new appointment, the veteran actor moves from being a prominent political campaigner for the BJP to taking on a formal advisory role within the West Bengal government.