In a landmark political shift in eastern India, senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of West Bengal on Saturday, marking the Bharatiya Janata Party’s first-ever government in the state.
The swearing-in ceremony was held at Kolkata’s iconic Brigade Parade Ground amid a massive gathering of party workers, political leaders and invited dignitaries. RN Ravi administered the oath of office and secrecy to Adhikari in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several Union ministers, chief ministers from NDA-ruled states and senior BJP leaders from across the country.
The event was seen as a defining moment in West Bengal’s political history, as the BJP formally replaced the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government, which had remained in power for the past 15 years.
The BJP secured a decisive mandate in the recently concluded assembly elections, winning 207 seats in the 294-member विधानसभा, comfortably crossing the majority mark and registering one of the party’s most significant electoral victories in eastern India. Political analysts view the result as a major breakthrough for the BJP in a state long dominated by regional political forces.
Addressing supporters after taking oath, Suvendu Adhikari said the new government would focus on development, administrative reforms, industrial growth and strengthening law and order in the state. He also thanked voters for placing their trust in the BJP and described the victory as “a mandate for change and governance.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the new chief minister and said the people of West Bengal had voted for a “new political direction.” Senior BJP leaders at the event described the victory as historic and symbolic of the party’s expanding footprint beyond its traditional strongholds.
Security arrangements across Kolkata were significantly tightened ahead of the ceremony, with thousands of police personnel deployed around Brigade Parade Grounds and key routes leading to the venue. Supporters carrying BJP flags and banners gathered in large numbers from different districts of the state to witness the event.
Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress has said it will play the role of a “strong and constructive opposition” inside and outside the assembly. Party leaders alleged that the BJP ran an aggressive and highly polarised campaign during the elections, though they accepted the public verdict.
The formation of the BJP government in West Bengal is expected to have wider political implications nationally, especially ahead of upcoming state elections and the broader contest between the BJP and regional parties across India.
