Debajyoti Chakraborty

Asansol, May 9 (UNI) From dusty Burnpur to Brigade it has been a long journey for Agnimitra Paul.
The twin steel townships of Burpur and New Town were ecstatic on Saturday as their beloved' Pupai' became a minister in West Bengal's first BJP government under chief minister Suvendu Adhikari.

The Asansol South MLA, who has won by the highest margin in the entire West Burdwan district in the recent Assembly polls, was the only woman minister to take the oath at the iconic Brigade Parade ground in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chief ministers of 20 NDA-ruled states, senior union ministers and other BJP stalwarts.
“I am really happy that the party’s leadership has bestowed its faith on my daughter and it is a matter of rare opportunity and pride for all of us,” said Dr. Ashok Roy, eminent paediatrician and
Paul's father.
Congratulations have been pouring in for the 51-year-old fashion designer turned politician from all over the globe.
“Proud of my friend Agnimitra Paul... Wishing you continued success as you keep achieving new
milestones and doing good work for the people,” commented celebrity chef, author, TV presenter and childhood neighbour and friend of New Town, Romy Hardeep Gill from UK.
Paul cleared her ICSE from Loreto Convent Asansol, a school also linked with Nobel Laureate Mother Teressa and Bollywood actress Sharmila Tagore. After graduating from Banwarilal Bhalotia College with Botany Honours she had pursued a fashion designing course and went on to become a fashion designer, though after higher secondary she wanted to become a doctor like her father.
She launched her own fashion clothes brand, Agni, and instantly became a celebrity staging various ramp shows. It was late Bollywood actress Sridevi who gave her the break.Paul became the fashion designer of Sridevi and another Bollywood superstar Mithun Chakraborty. She had even designed dresses for FIFA president Gianni Infantino and his team during the FIFA under-17 World Cup in India in 2017.
She joined the BJP just before the 2019 Lok Sabha election, becoming the general secretary of its women's wing Bharatiya Janata Mahila Morcha in the state.
In 2021, she became the MLA for the first time from Asansol South, defeating Sayoni Ghosh of the TMC. However, the next year, she lost the by-election to the Lok Sabha from Asansol against Bollywood veteran Shatrughan Sinha. The seat had fallen vacant after BJP MP Babul Supriyo resigned from the seat.
After the exit of Babul Supriyo from the BJP, Paul became the woman face of the state BJP. The firebrand leader never cowed down before atrocities by political opponents in her area and stood beside the suffering families and also staged agitations against the sand and coal mafia.
Paul is married to Partho Paul, whose family runs a pharmaceutical company in the state. UNI DC SSP