Government of West Bengal
Government of West Bengal
Publisher
Gems Of India
Gems Of India
Partha Chatterjee is a senior Indian politician from West Bengal, associated with the Trinamool Congress (TMC). He began his political career in the student wing of Congress, eventually rising through the ranks of TMC after its founding in 1998. He has been MLA from Behala Paschim for multiple terms since 2001, and has held key portfolios including Education, Industry, Parliamentary Affairs, among others. In 2022 Chatterjee was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a large alleged “cash-for-jobs” or teacher recruitment scam involving the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC). Investigations revealed that about ₹49.80 crore in cash and further assets worth in gold, immovable property and company holdings amounting to over ₹103.10 crore were held by him and his close associate Arpita Mukherjee. His case has become emblematic of accusations of corruption in the educational recruitment processes under his tenure (2014-2021 as Education Minister), with charges that unqualified candidates paid bribes for jobs, shell companies were used to launder money, and assets were concealed via associates.
Chief Minister of West Bengal responsible for cultural preservation, social welfare, and democratic governance. Leader of All India Trinamool Congress with focus on women's rights and rural development.