Suvendu Takes Oath as Bengal CM, BJP Makes History

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A major political shift unfolded in eastern India on Saturday as Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of West Bengal, marking the first time the Bharatiya Janata Party has formed a government in the state.

The swearing-in ceremony took place at the historic Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata amid tight security and massive public turnout. The event began around 11:00am local time, with thousands of BJP supporters, party workers and political leaders gathering to witness what party leaders described as a “historic mandate for change.”

Narendra Modi attended the ceremony alongside senior BJP figures and congratulated Suvendu Adhikari after the oath-taking, patting him on the back and greeting him warmly on stage. The gesture drew loud cheers from the crowd gathered at the venue.

West Bengal Governor R. N. Ravi administered the oath of office to Adhikari and members of the new cabinet. Among those sworn in as ministers were BJP leaders Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Nisith Pramanik and several other senior party figures.

Ahead of the ceremony, Prime Minister Modi arrived at the venue in an open-roof vehicle alongside Suvendu Adhikari and BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya. The leaders waved to supporters as chants and party slogans echoed across the ground.

The ceremony coincided with the celebration of Rabindra Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Modi paid tribute to the iconic Bengali poet by placing flowers before his portrait on stage before the national anthem was played.

Several top BJP leaders and chief ministers from across India attended the high-profile event. Among them were Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP president J. P. Nadda and senior leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Chief ministers from multiple Indian states were also present, including Yogi Adityanath, N. Chandrababu Naidu, Devendra Fadnavis and Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Prominent personalities from politics, culture and the entertainment industry attended the event as well. Veteran actor Mithun Chakraborty and former Union minister Smriti Irani were seen among the invited guests.

The BJP’s victory in the recent West Bengal Assembly election ended the long rule of the All India Trinamool Congress in the state. Suvendu Adhikari, once considered a close associate of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has now replaced her at the helm of the state government after leading the BJP’s successful campaign.

A day before the swearing-in ceremony, Adhikari met Governor R. N. Ravi at the Raj Bhavan and formally submitted documents claiming majority support from 207 newly elected BJP legislators.

Earlier, BJP lawmakers held a legislative party meeting in Kolkata where Amit Shah officially announced Suvendu Adhikari as the party’s choice for chief minister, paving the way for a new political chapter in West Bengal.