Suvendu Adhikari Sworn in as BJP’s first Chief Minister of West Bengal

Kolkata: Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as the Chief Minister of West Bengal on Saturday at a ceremony at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Grounds, marking the inaugural term of a BJP-led administration in the state. Governor R.N. Ravi administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new leader. The event was attended by high-profile dignitaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several Union ministers, Chief Ministers from various NDA-governed states, and top-tier BJP leadership.

The swearing-in ceremony marks a historic moment as Adhikari is set to become the first BJP Chief Minister of West Bengal. His rise follows two high-profile electoral victories against former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee that significantly reshaped the state’s political landscape.

Adhikari first defeated Banerjee in the 2021 Assembly election from Nandigram by a narrow margin, in one of the most closely watched contests in recent years. He later secured another major victory in the 2026 elections from Bhabanipur, winning by more than 15,000 votes.

The five members of the state Council of Ministers who were also sworn in on Saturday include the former national vice-president and former state president of the BJP in West Bengal, Dilip Ghosh, fashion-designer-turned politician and two-time BJP legislator, Agnimitra Paul, former BJP Lok Sabha member and the former Union Minister of state for Home, Nisith Pramanik, Ashok Kirtania and Khudiram Tudu.

Ghosh was the second person, after Adhikari, to take the oath, followed by Paul, Kritania, Tudu, and Pramanik. However, the portfolios of the five other members of the state’s Council of Ministers have not been announced.

While Kirtania represents the Matua community, Tudu represents the tribal community. In the recently concluded Assembly elections in West Bengal, the BJP candidates virtually swept almost all the Assembly constituencies where Matua and tribal voters were in the majority.

While Ghosh represents the other backward class (OBC) community, Paul hails from the Kayastha background. Pramanik is the representative of the Rajbanshi community, a predominant sect of people in North Bengal, where the BJP this time had almost demolished Trinamool Congress in the recently concluded Assembly polls.

Adhikari himself is a Brahmin. Political observers feel that the selection of the first six ministers from different caste backgrounds is a subtle signal sent by the BJP that the new state government will consider people from all caste backgrounds with equality without any bias towards anybody.

Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress, as the principal Opposition party in the House this time, is yet to announce the name of the Leader of the Opposition, the chair held by Adhikari from 2021 to 2026.

PM Modi Honors 98-Year-Old Veteran at Swearing-In

During the swearing-in ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought the blessings of Makhanlal Sarkar, 98, the state’s oldest living BJP worker. Arriving at the Brigade Parade Grounds, PM Modi joined Adhikari and State President Samik Bhattacharya in an open-jeep procession. Waving to thousands of supporters amidst a sea of saffron and the thunder of traditional drums, the Prime Minister eventually made his way to the dais to greet a high-profile assembly of Union Ministers and NDA Chief Ministers.

Before the official proceedings began, the Prime Minister approached Sarkar, draped him in a ceremonial shawl, and touched his feet, signalling the deep respect the party holds for its foundational members.

The Legacy of Makhanlal Sarkar

Makhanlal Sarkar’s political journey is a testament to the early nationalist movement in post-Independence India:

• 1952 Arrest: Sarkar was arrested in Kashmir while accompanying Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee during the historic movement to hoist the Indian Tricolour.
• Organisational Architect: Following the BJP’s formation in 1980, he served as the coordinator for West Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri, and Darjeeling, enrolling nearly 10,000 members within a single year.
• Record Tenure: He served as a district president for seven consecutive years starting in 1981, a rare feat in the party’s early organizational history.