National: Suvendu Adhikari officially became the first Bharatiya Janata Party chief minister of West Bengal on Saturday, marking a historic political transformation in the state. The grand oath-taking ceremony was held at Brigade Parade Ground, where Governor R. N. Ravi administered the oath of office and secrecy.

Adhikari took the oath in Bengali in the name of God and later bowed before Prime Minister Narendra Modi on stage. The ceremony witnessed the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, NDA leaders, and chief ministers from around 20 BJP-ruled states.

PM Modi Pays Tribute to Rabindranath Tagore

The event began with Prime Minister Modi paying floral tribute to Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore on his 165th birth anniversary, celebrated as “Pochishe Boishakh” in Bengal.

One of the most emotional moments of the ceremony came when PM Modi honored 98-year-old BJP worker Makhanlal Sarkar. Modi personally walked up to him, draped a shawl over his shoulders, and touched his feet in respect. Sarkar was associated with the nationalist movement and had reportedly been arrested during the 1952 Kashmir agitation alongside Syama Prasad Mookerjee supporters.

BJP Ends 15 Years of TMC Rule in Bengal

The swearing-in marks a massive political victory for the BJP in West Bengal. After opening its account with just three seats in 2016 and rising to 77 seats in 2021, the party achieved a landslide victory in the 2026 Assembly elections by winning 207 seats.

Suvendu Adhikari, who defeated Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur, has now become the face of BJP’s rise in eastern India. Political analysts are calling it one of the biggest power shifts in Bengal’s modern political history.

Five Ministers Also Take Oath

Along with Suvendu Adhikari, senior BJP leaders including Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Ashok Kirtania, Kshudiram Tudu, and Nishith Pramanik were sworn in as ministers.

The newly formed government is expected to focus on law and order, industrial growth, women’s safety, education reforms, and infrastructure development across the state.

PM Modi’s Gesture Wins Hearts

At the end of the ceremony, Prime Minister Modi thanked the crowd in a unique manner by kneeling on the stage and greeting the public with folded hands. Images of the moment quickly went viral across social media platforms.

The Prime Minister also held meetings with the families of BJP workers who allegedly lost their lives during election-related violence in the state.

Massive Celebrations Across Bengal

Celebrations erupted across Kolkata and Suvendu Adhikari’s hometown Contai after the oath ceremony. BJP supporters carrying saffron flags gathered in large numbers and raised slogans in support of the new government.

Residents expressed hope that the new administration would improve governance, healthcare, education, women’s safety, and employment opportunities in West Bengal.

BJP Leaders Call It a “New Era” for Bengal

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari described the victory as recognition of BJP’s ideology in Bengal and said the political change would accelerate development in the state.

Meanwhile, Dilip Ghosh said the formation of the BJP government fulfilled the dream of Syama Prasad Mookerjee and represented the aspirations of millions of people in Bengal.

Grand Ceremony Decorated With Bengal’s Cultural Spirit

The venue at Brigade Parade Ground was decorated with nearly 20 varieties of flowers, and close to one lakh people reportedly attended the event. Traditional Bengali dishes and Indian cuisine were served to guests, adding cultural flavor to the political celebration.

Political observers believe Suvendu Adhikari’s rise as chief minister could significantly influence the future political landscape of eastern India and national politics in the coming years.