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In a historic and dramatic political shift, Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday took oath as the first-ever Chief Minister of West Bengal from the Bharatiya Janata Party, marking the end of nearly 15 years of rule by the All India Trinamool Congress in the state. The swearing-in ceremony took place at the historic Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata amid massive celebrations by BJP supporters and tight security arrangements across the city.
The oath of office was administered by Governor R. N. Ravi in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, several NDA chief ministers, senior BJP leaders, and thousands of party workers who gathered to witness what BJP leaders described as “a new era in Bengal politics.”
The BJP’s victory in the 2026 Assembly elections has been widely seen as one of the biggest political upsets in recent Indian political history. After years of aggressive campaigning and organizational expansion in Bengal, the saffron party managed to secure a decisive majority in the 294-member Assembly, ending the long dominance of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress.
Speaking shortly after taking oath, Adhikari promised a “government of development, transparency, and law and order.” He said his administration would focus on industrial growth, employment generation, infrastructure modernization, and investment in rural Bengal. He also appealed for political peace in the state and urged supporters to avoid violence and revenge politics.
“This victory belongs to the people of Bengal. We will work for every citizen irrespective of religion, caste, or political identity,” Adhikari said during his first public address as Chief Minister.
The rise of Suvendu Adhikari has been one of the most dramatic political journeys in Bengal politics. Once considered one of Mamata Banerjee’s closest aides in the Trinamool Congress, Adhikari played a major role in the Nandigram movement that helped bring the TMC to power in 2011. However, political differences led to his exit from the party, and he later emerged as BJP’s strongest face in Bengal politics.
Alongside Adhikari, senior BJP leaders including Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Nisith Pramanik, Ashok Kirtania, and Kshudiram Tudu also took oath as ministers in the new cabinet. Party sources indicated that a larger cabinet expansion could take place in the coming weeks.
The ceremony also carried symbolic significance as it coincided with the birth anniversary of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore according to the Bengali calendar. Before the oath-taking, Adhikari paid tribute at Jorasanko Thakurbari and invoked Bengal’s cultural identity in his speeches.
Political analysts believe the BJP government now faces enormous challenges. From restoring investor confidence to handling unemployment, rural distress, political polarization, and administrative restructuring, the new government will be under intense scrutiny in the coming months. Questions also remain about how the BJP will balance its national political agenda with Bengal’s strong regional and cultural identity.
Meanwhile, the defeated Trinamool Congress has alleged electoral irregularities and signaled that it will play the role of a “strong opposition” inside and outside the Assembly. Senior TMC leaders claimed the battle for Bengal’s political future is far from over.
With Suvendu Adhikari now occupying the state’s top office, Bengal enters an entirely new political chapter — one that could redefine not only the state’s future but also the national political landscape ahead of the next general elections.
