Dr. Shankar Ghosh has assumed office as West Bengal’s Minister-in-Charge for Parliamentary Affairs and Tourism, bringing to the role a career built across student politics, municipal governance and state legislative office. A two-time MLA from the Siliguri Assembly constituency, he was first elected in 2021 and returned to the seat in 2026 with a considerably increased margin, a result that reflects sustained public support in his constituency.
From Student Politics to Municipal Office
Born on 12 June 1974, Dr. Ghosh’s public life began in student and youth movements, which he joined in the early 1990s before moving into civic administration as a Councillor of Siliguri Municipal Corporation. In 2010, he was part of the Indian delegation to the 17th World Festival of Youth and Students, held in South Africa, an early marker of his engagement beyond local politics. He was elected councillor from Ward No. 24 of Siliguri in 2015, and went on to serve as Member Mayor-in-Council for Education, Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, later additionally entrusted with the Health portfolio – experience that gave him a close, ground-level understanding of urban governance. He also served on the Board of Administrators of Siliguri Municipal Corporation.
Legislative Career and Rise Within the BJP
Dr. Ghosh joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on 12 March 2021, and contested the Siliguri Assembly constituency in that year’s state election, winning the seat by a margin of 35,586 votes. He was re-elected in the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election with a considerably wider margin of 73,192 votes, consolidating his hold on the constituency. In 2024, he was appointed Chief Whip of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, a role that further strengthened his standing within the state’s legislative affairs.
In May 2026, ahead of his elevation to the Cabinet, Dr. Ghosh organised a public outreach programme titled “Sorashori Shankar” at Baghajatin Park in Siliguri, drawing residents not only from the city but from districts including Malda, Cooch Behar and Kolkata, who came forward with grievances ranging from land disputes to alleged irregularities in recruitment. He committed to relaying these concerns to the Chief Minister and the relevant government departments, and announced plans to extend similar ward-level outreach programmes across the Siliguri Municipal Corporation area.
Taking Charge of Tourism
On 1 June 2026, Dr. Ghosh was sworn in as a Cabinet Minister of West Bengal, one of thirteen members inducted that day, taking charge of the Parliamentary Affairs and Tourism Department. As the state’s new Tourism Minister, he is expected to focus on strengthening the sector by promoting West Bengal’s cultural heritage, its Himalayan destinations, wildlife and coastal attractions, heritage circuits and religious tourism circuits, while pushing sustainable tourism development and working to enhance the visitor experience across the state.
Also Read
Vishnunadh Takes charge as Kerala’s Minister for Tourism and Culture
Watch on Youtube
