The BJP’s West Bengal unit may be disappointed that two of their MPs—S S Ahluwalia and Babul Supriyo—did not find a place in the Modi Cabinet, but leaders in Kolkata are hopeful that they would get key organisational roles after the party made notable inroads into the state.

State party leaders are looking forward to Modi’s first visit to the state after becoming prime minister, which would either be at Ahluwalia’s turf in Darjeeling, or Supriyo’s in Asansol, with the expectation that the two MPs would be given important roles.

Supriyo wrote on Facebook after the swearing-in ceremony: “I am not one of the ministers. Sorry to disappoint, although I value your prayers and wishes.”

State BJP leaders, however, still look forward to a bright future. “We were looking forward to both of them being accommodated in the Cabinet. Although that did not happen, we are sure the party’s senior leadership has definite plans for Bengal, now that we have 17 per cent of the vote share in the state,” a senior leader said.