Chief Minister Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee

Portfolio Phone No. Minister-in-Charge (MIC), Home, Information and Cultural Affairs, Science and Technology, Minorities Affairs and Madrasah Education, Hill Affairs and Personnel & Administrative Reforms 033 22145555

Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee is the Chief Minister of West Bengal since 6th November, 2000 after Shri Jyoti Basu stepped down.

Shri Bhattacharjee was born on 1st March 1944 and is the nephew of rebel poet of Bengal Kabi Sukanta Bhattacharya. He is a former student of Sailendra Sirkar Vidyalaya and graduated from Presidency College, Kolkata in 1964.

Shri Bhattacharjee made a mark as an able organiser of student-youth movement at a very young age during the turbulent time of the 1960s. Being Founder Secretary of the Leftist Youth Organisation, Democratic Youth Federation in West Bengal, he played a leading role in shaping an ideologically sound youth movement.

In 1960s West Bengal like many other places was passing through a strong anticolonial and anti imperialist movement. He was imprisoned and had to go underground for political activities. Shri Bhattacharjee was also then an important functionary of the Vietnam Solidarity Committee in West Bengal.

In 1977, The Left Front Government was formed with Shri Jyoti Basu as Chief Minister. Shri Bhattacharjee was elected in Legislative Assembly for the first time from Cossipore Assembly Constituency and was inducted into the Cabinet as Minister-in-Charge, Information and Cultural Affairs Department. Shri Bhattacharjee assumed charge as Chief Minister in 2000 with rich experience of serving as Minister-in-Charge in the Departments of Urban Development, Municipal Affairs and Home(Police) for nearly 18 years. A leading figure in the Left and democratic movement in the country, Shri Bhattacharjee is acclaimed widely in the national politics for his unflinching commitment to democracy, gender-equality, secularism, national unity, cause of the underprivileged sections and the principle of environment-friendly sustainable development. He is respected even by the political opponents for his simple life style and honesty of purpose. Shri Bhattacharjee is also known to be a passionate cricket lover. An avid traveller, he has visited USSR, United Kingdom, Italy, China, France, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cuba and South Africa. Shri Bhattacharjee and his wife Meera have a daughter, Suchetana who is an ardent wildlife activist. A prolific writer, a sensible speaker, a voracious reader and a charming personality are the unique characteristic traits of Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharje, the Chief Minister of West Bengal.