Chandrima Bhattacharya

Chandrima Bhattacharya was born on 5 December 1955 in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. She completed her LL.B. (1976) from the University of Calcutta and practised as an advocate at the Calcutta High Court until her full transition into electoral politics in 2011. Her legal expertise has informed her policy approach and ministerial functions throughout her political career.

Bhattacharya began her political journey after joining the All India Trinamool Congress, becoming closely aligned with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and rising to key leadership positions within the party’s women’s wing and legal cell. She was first elected MLA from Dum Dum Uttar in 2011, establishing her legislative presence in state politics soon after the AITC’s rise to power in West Bengal.

She lost the Dum Dum Uttar seat in 2016, but in a 2017 by-election, she was elected MLA from Kanthi Dakshin, showcasing her electoral resilience. In 2021, she returned to her home constituency, winning Dum Dum Uttar again and reinforcing her political standing.

In government, Bhattacharya has held multiple ministerial portfolios since 2012, including positions in Finance (Independent Charge), Health & Family Welfare, Land & Land Reforms, and Refugee & Rehabilitation. In 2025, she assumed the role of Chairperson of the West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO), underscoring her growing administrative influence.

As of 2026, she continues to serve as MLA and minister, balancing governance duties with organisational leadership within her party.