Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as the first Bharatiya Janata Party Chief Minister of West Bengal on Saturday at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground, marking a historic political change in the state after the BJP defeated the Trinamool Congress in the Assembly elections.
Governor R. N. Ravi administered the oath of office and secrecy in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, several Union ministers, and chief ministers from NDA-ruled states.
The BJP won 207 seats in the 294-member Assembly, ending the 15-year rule of Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress.
“A Historic Dawn for Bengal”: Adhikari
Before taking oath, Adhikari described the occasion as the beginning of a new chapter for the state.
“A historic dawn for West Bengal indeed. Today marks the beginning of a double-engine government focused on development, peace, and prosperity,” Adhikari said in a post on social media.
After becoming Chief Minister, he said his government would work through “collective leadership” and focus on fulfilling the vision of “Sonar Bangla.”
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who chaired the BJP legislature party meeting on Friday, said that all proposals supported Adhikari’s name for the top post.
“The process of choosing the legislative party leader has been completed. Every proposal was in favour of Suvendu Adhikari,” Shah said.
From TMC Leader to BJP Chief Minister
Adhikari was once considered one of Mamata Banerjee’s closest political aides and played an important role in the Nandigram movement that helped the Trinamool Congress rise to power in 2011.
However, differences with the TMC leadership emerged in later years, especially after the growing influence of Mamata Banerjee’s nephew within the party. Adhikari joined the BJP in 2020 and quickly became one of the party’s strongest faces in Bengal politics.
He gained national attention after defeating Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram during the 2021 Assembly elections. In the 2026 elections, he again defeated Banerjee, this time from Bhabanipur, further strengthening his position within the BJP.
Grand Ceremony at Brigade Parade Ground
Thousands of BJP supporters gathered at Brigade Parade Ground to witness the swearing-in ceremony. Supporters carrying saffron flags and banners arrived from different parts of Bengal and neighbouring states.
The venue was decorated with symbols of Bengal’s culture, including depictions of Dakshineswar Kali Temple, Goddess Durga, and traditional Bengali art.
Folk performances, Chhou dances, devotional music, and celebrations continued throughout the day as BJP workers described the moment as “historic” for the state.
The oath-taking ceremony also coincided with the birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore according to the Bengali calendar.
