CM Announces Monthly Cabinet Review Meetings in North Bengal, Outlines Major Development Plans

PTI, May 21, 2026, Siliguri : On his maiden visit to Siliguri in the capacity of Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari announced that he, along with his Cabinet, will be holding office at Uttarkanya, the branch secretariat in Siliguri, once every month.

“Since 2009, the Darjeeling Hills, along with North Bengal, have been supporting the BJP. Now it is time for payback to North Bengal through development activities. North Bengal will be given priority in development activities of the BJP government,” declared the Chief Minister.

An AIIMS, an IIT, an IIM and a cancer hospital will come up in North Bengal, assured Adhikari, keeping with the BJP’s Sankalp Patra.

Adhikari said Uttarkanya would be made more functional, with the Minister of North Bengal Development Department, Nisith Pramanik, holding office there once a week.

“The NBDD minister will meet the public from 9 am to 11 am; from 11 am to 1 pm, he will hold review meetings with the administration and police and from 2 pm to 4 pm, he will meet all the MLAs and MPs reviewing the implementation of all State and Central schemes,” stated the Chief Minister.

Adhikari held a two-and-a-half-hour administrative meeting at Uttarkanya attended by district magistrates, police officials, and senior administrative officers from five North Bengal districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and Cooch Behar.

Though the Chief Minister did not address the media after the meeting, BJP MP Raju Bista and MLA Sankar Ghosh later shared details of the discussions.

Raju Bista said improving governance and strengthening services across North Bengal were key priorities discussed. The government would adopt a strict stance against corruption in sectors including education, healthcare, and urban administration.

The meeting reportedly discussed allegations of corruption in civic bodies across the hills and the Siliguri Municipal Corporation. Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul has been asked to hold meetings with MPs and MLAs regarding these issues.

Municipal elections in hill areas where polls have been delayed would be conducted after the monsoon. The MLAs and MPs have been asked to keep close watch on hill municipalities and the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).

A separate meeting regarding the GTA would be held to discuss its future and alleged corruption, according to Bista.

Earlier, the Chief Minister stated that whatever corruption has taken place in the GTA would be investigated and that all involved would be brought to book.

Special focus was given to tea gardens, with the government considering the implementation of the Assam model.

The government also plans to revive the stalled Tea Workers Scheme (Chai Shramik Yojana), introduce new labour laws, and provide land rights to tea workers.

The rollout of the Ayushman Bharat scheme is also expected to be expedited across the state. The employment scheme “Ji Ram Ji” is also expected to provide 125 days of employment and will be implemented in the State from June 25.

The Chief Minister reportedly instructed officials to strengthen disaster preparedness in view of recurring flash floods and landslides, particularly in the hills and Dooars regions.

Authorities were also directed to intensify monitoring against illegal riverbed mining and adopt stricter measures against drug trafficking. Delayed No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for pending projects will be processed more quickly.

The Chief Minister also assured that jobs would be given to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in post-poll violence.

He further said he would remain accessible to the public, stating that grievances could be submitted at Uttarkanya for review and possible implementation.