Who Is Cooch Behar Strongman Nisith Pramanik, Latest To Join Suvendu Adhikari's New Cabinet?

Last Updated:May 09, 2026, 12:34 IST

Born in Dinhata, Cooch Behar district, Pramanik began his political journey with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) before switching to the BJP in 2019

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nisith Pramanik on Saturday took oath as a cabinet minister in the new West Bengal government to be helmed by chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, days after the saffron party stormed to power in the state.

Pramanik, who has emerged as one of the most influential political figures in North Bengal, is known for his rapid rise from grassroots politics to the Union Cabinet and now a return to state-level executive power in the newly formed West Bengal government.

Born in Dinhata, Cooch Behar district, Pramanik began his political journey with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) before switching to the BJP in 2019. His move marked a major turning point in his career, quickly establishing him as a prominent face in the party’s expansion strategy in North Bengal.

According to The Economic Times, after joining the BJP, Pramanik won the Cooch Behar Lok Sabha seat in 2019, strengthening his image as a key leader in a politically sensitive region marked by intense party rivalry and identity-based politics. The Print described him as a “Cooch Behar strongman", highlighting his deep local influence in the region.

He remained a crucial organisational pillar for the BJP in North Bengal, particularly among the Rajbanshi belt.

In 2021, Pramanik was inducted into the Union Council of Ministers as Minister of State for Home Affairs and Youth Affairs & Sports, becoming one of the youngest ministers in the Narendra Modi government. He served in this role until 2024, handling internal security and youth-related portfolios while maintaining strong political activity in West Bengal.

After stepping away from the Union government, Pramanik returned to frontline state politics. In the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections, he contested and won from the Mathabhanga (SC) constituency in Cooch Behar district, marking a strong comeback as an MLA.

With the BJP forming a government in West Bengal under Adhikari, Pramanik has now been inducted as a cabinet minister in the new state government.

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