{ "id": "epar7krrz7", "slug": "gouri-shankar-ghosh", "title": "Gouri Shankar Ghosh", "updated": "2026-09-29", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.politics", "label": "Politics and government", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions", "label": "Government and public administration", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders", "label": "Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.east-and-central-indian-politicians", "label": "East and Central Indian politicians", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.east-and-central-indian-politicians" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.east-and-central-indian-politicians.ministers", "label": "Chief ministers and ministers", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.east-and-central-indian-politicians.ministers" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.east-and-central-indian-politicians.ministers.alpha-a-to-k", "label": "Surnames A to K", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.east-and-central-indian-politicians.ministers.alpha-a-to-k" } ], "geo": [ { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.east-and-central-indian-politicians.ministers.alpha-a-to-k", "label": "India · 2021 and later: Surnames A to K", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.east-and-central-indian-politicians.ministers.alpha-a-to-k", "path": [ { "id": "geo.ind", "label": "India", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021", "label": "India · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.society" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.society.politics", "label": "Politics and government", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.society.politics" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.society.politics.institutions", "label": "Government and public administration", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.society.politics.institutions" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders", "label": "Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.east-and-central-indian-politicians", "label": "East and Central Indian politicians", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.east-and-central-indian-politicians" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.east-and-central-indian-politicians.ministers", "label": "Chief ministers and ministers", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.east-and-central-indian-politicians.ministers" }, { "id": "geo.ind.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.east-and-central-indian-politicians.ministers.alpha-a-to-k", "label": "Surnames A to K", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.ind.t2021.society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.east-and-central-indian-politicians.ministers.alpha-a-to-k" } ] } ], "excerpt": "Gouri Shankar Ghosh is an Indian politician of the Bharatiya Janata Party and a West Bengal minister holding the Backward Classes Welfare, Mass Education Extension, and Library Services portfolios.", "snippet": "Gouri Shankar Ghosh is an Indian politician of the Bharatiya Janata Party and a West Bengal minister holding the Backward Classes Welfare, Mass Education Extension, and Library Services portfolios.", "node": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.east-and-central-indian-politicians.ministers.alpha-a-to-k", "markdown": "# Gouri Shankar Ghosh\n\nGouri Shankar Ghosh is an Indian politician and a member of the [Bharatiya Janata Party](https://www.edgepedia.org/bharatiya-janata-party) (BJP). He is a minister in the [Government of West Bengal](https://www.edgepedia.org/government-of-west-bengal), holding the Backward Classes Welfare, Mass Education Extension, and Library Services portfolios.[1](https://eisamay.com/videos/minister-gouri-shankar-ghosh-reaction/200507279.cms)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n| --- | --- |\n| Party | Bharatiya Janata Party[2](https://www.thehindu.com/elections/candidates/WestBengal2026/gouri-sankar-ghosh-94/) |\n| Current office | Minister, Government of West Bengal (Backward Classes Welfare, Mass Education Extension and Library Services)[1](https://eisamay.com/videos/minister-gouri-shankar-ghosh-reaction/200507279.cms) |\n| Previous offices | None recorded[3](https://tv9bangla.com/kolkata/west-bengal-assembly-passes-obc-amendment-bills-minister-gaurishankar-ghosh-targets-former-tmc-government-1326842.html) |\n| Education | Post Graduate[2](https://www.thehindu.com/elections/candidates/WestBengal2026/gouri-sankar-ghosh-94/) |\n\n## Party affiliation\n\nGhosh is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.[2](https://www.thehindu.com/elections/candidates/WestBengal2026/gouri-sankar-ghosh-94/)\n\n## Early life and education\n\nAccording to his election affidavit summary published by [The Hindu](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-hindu) with data from the Association for Democratic Reforms, Ghosh's educational qualification is Post Graduate, and he declared his profession as business and politician.[2](https://www.thehindu.com/elections/candidates/WestBengal2026/gouri-sankar-ghosh-94/)\n\n## Career\n\nGhosh serves as a minister in the Government of West Bengal with responsibility for the Backward Classes Welfare, Mass Education Extension, and Library Services departments.[1](https://eisamay.com/videos/minister-gouri-shankar-ghosh-reaction/200507279.cms) He holds the Backward Classes Welfare portfolio in the state ministry.[3](https://tv9bangla.com/kolkata/west-bengal-assembly-passes-obc-amendment-bills-minister-gaurishankar-ghosh-targets-former-tmc-government-1326842.html)\n\nAfter taking charge of the Backward Classes Welfare, Library and Mass Education departments, he indicated that he would take a firm position on corruption in the state. In remarks reported by Ei Samay, he said that those involved in corruption and those who had consumed public money would each have to be exposed.[1](https://eisamay.com/videos/minister-gouri-shankar-ghosh-reaction/200507279.cms)\n\n## Issues specific to Ghosh\n\nIn the affidavit filed for the 2026 [West Bengal](https://www.edgepedia.org/west-bengal) assembly election, Ghosh declared four pending criminal cases; these are pending allegations, not convictions.[2](https://www.thehindu.com/elections/candidates/WestBengal2026/gouri-sankar-ghosh-94/)\n\nIn 2026, Ghosh spoke publicly about leaders of the Trinamool Congress who were reported to be moving toward the BJP. He said, \"কাটমানি পাচ্ছিল তাই তারা সরকারের সঙ্গে ছিল। এখন কাটমানি পাওয়ার পথ বন্ধ হয়ে গেছে। কেউ বিক্ষুব্ধ সেজে বিজেপির সঙ্গে মিশতে আসছে\" (our translation: they were with the government because they were receiving a cut; now the way of receiving a cut has closed, and some are coming to the BJP pretending to be aggrieved). He also said, \"ভারতীয় জনতা পার্টির কর্মকর্তারা বিশ্বাস রাখুন। আমাদের দল কোন তৃণমূলের কাটমানিখোর অবৈধ ব্যবসার সঙ্গে যুক্ত কোন নেতাকে পার্টিতে যুক্ত করবে না\" (our translation: workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party may rest assured, our party will not bring into it any leader connected with the cut-money illegal business of the Trinamool).[4](https://madhyabanga.news/gauri-shankar-ghosh-attacks-tmc-leaders-2026/)\n\n## Positions and voting record\n\n### OBC reservation\n\nAs Backward Classes Welfare minister, Ghosh introduced two amendment bills in the [West Bengal Legislative Assembly](https://www.edgepedia.org/west-bengal-legislative-assembly) concerning Other Backward Classes reservation: the West Bengal Backward Classes Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the West Bengal Backward Classes (other than [Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes](https://www.edgepedia.org/scheduled-castes-and-scheduled-tribes)) (Reservation in Government Jobs and Posts) (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The assembly passed both bills by voice vote.[3](https://tv9bangla.com/kolkata/west-bengal-assembly-passes-obc-amendment-bills-minister-gaurishankar-ghosh-targets-former-tmc-government-1326842.html)\n\nSpeaking in the assembly debate, Ghosh criticized the former Trinamool Congress government's handling of OBC reservation. He said, \"তোষণের জন্যই তৃণমূল জমানায় সংরক্ষণ বাড়ানো হয়। সংখ্যালঘুদের প্রকৃত উন্নয়ন সংক্রান্ত ভাবনা ছিল না বিলে। আগের সরকার বিল নিয়ে কোনও আলোচনা করেনি। সামাজিক সমীক্ষা না করেই বিলে সংশোধনী এনেছিল তৃণমূল সরকার। অনগ্রসর শ্রেণী যাতে বঞ্চিত না হয়, সেই লক্ষ্যেই বিল আনা হয়েছে\" (our translation: reservation was expanded during the Trinamool era for appeasement; the bill had no real thought for the development of minorities; the previous government held no discussion on the bill and brought amendments without a social survey; the bill has been brought so that backward classes are not deprived).[3](https://tv9bangla.com/kolkata/west-bengal-assembly-passes-obc-amendment-bills-minister-gaurishankar-ghosh-targets-former-tmc-government-1326842.html)\n\nHe further said that the previous government had added communities to the OBC list only for political gain, and that the legislation was brought to bring the matter into conformity with a [Calcutta High Court](https://www.edgepedia.org/calcutta-high-court) order. He said, \"আগের সরকার ১১৩ জাতিকে অন্তর্ভুক্ত করেছিল। শুধুমাত্র রাজনীতির জন্য কমিশন মনে করলে তারা সুপারিশ করতে পারবে। সেই অনুসারে পদক্ষেপ করা হবে\" (our translation: the previous government included 113 communities; if the commission is remembered only for politics, it can make recommendations, and steps will be taken accordingly). He added, \"হাইকোর্টের সিদ্ধান্তকে মান্যতা দিয়ে এই বিল এনেছি\" (our translation: I have brought this bill giving recognition to the High Court's decision).[3](https://tv9bangla.com/kolkata/west-bengal-assembly-passes-obc-amendment-bills-minister-gaurishankar-ghosh-targets-former-tmc-government-1326842.html)\n\n### Corruption in West Bengal\n\nAfter becoming a minister, Ghosh said that those connected with corruption in the state and those who had enjoyed the proceeds of public money would have to be identified and exposed.[1](https://eisamay.com/videos/minister-gouri-shankar-ghosh-reaction/200507279.cms)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Gouri Shankar Ghosh | Ei Samay](https://eisamay.com/videos/minister-gouri-shankar-ghosh-reaction/200507279.cms)\n2. [Gouri Sankar Ghosh, Murshidabad constituency, BJP, West Bengal Assembly Election 2026: Profile & Affidavit - The Hindu](https://www.thehindu.com/elections/candidates/WestBengal2026/gouri-sankar-ghosh-94/)\n3. [West Bengal Assembly Passes OBC Amendment Bills, Minister Gaurishankar Ghosh Targets Former TMC Government | TV9 Bangla](https://tv9bangla.com/kolkata/west-bengal-assembly-passes-obc-amendment-bills-minister-gaurishankar-ghosh-targets-former-tmc-government-1326842.html)\n4. [Gauri Shankar Ghosh attacks TMC leaders | Madhyabanga News](https://madhyabanga.news/gauri-shankar-ghosh-attacks-tmc-leaders-2026/)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Government and public administration › Politicians and government officeholders (biographies) › East and Central Indian politicians › Chief ministers and ministers › Surnames A to K*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 28, 2026; Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 28, 2026; Sep 29, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/gouri-shankar-ghosh", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/gouri-shankar-ghosh.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Gouri Shankar Ghosh\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/gouri-shankar-ghosh. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Gouri Shankar Ghosh](https://www.edgepedia.org/gouri-shankar-ghosh)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/gouri-shankar-ghosh](https://www.edgepedia.org/gouri-shankar-ghosh). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Gouri Shankar Ghosh\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/gouri-shankar-ghosh. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Gouri Shankar Ghosh is an Indian politician of the Bharatiya Janata Party and a West Bengal minister holding the Backward Classes Welfare, Mass Education Extension, and Library Services portfolios." }