The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will hold an oath-taking ceremony on May 9, 2024 [2], to form its first state government in West Bengal.
This transition represents a major political shift in the region, ending 15 years [3] of rule by the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The change of power follows the BJP winning enough seats in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly to replace the incumbent administration.
The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata [1]. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is overseeing the final stages of cabinet formation, with related coordination meetings held at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre [1].
The transition has been met with sharp criticism from the outgoing administration. Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal and leader of the TMC, said the BJP secured a deal to remove her party from power.
Banerjee said the BJP has "struck a ₹1,000-crore deal" [1] to unseat the Trinamool Congress from power in West Bengal.
Party officials have accelerated the process of finalizing the cabinet to ensure the government is ready for the ceremony on Saturday. The event is expected to be a high-profile gathering marking the BJP's first successful attempt to govern the state.
“The BJP will hold an oath-taking ceremony on May 9, 2024, to form its first state government in West Bengal.”
The formation of a BJP government in West Bengal breaks a long-standing political stronghold held by the Trinamool Congress. By successfully installing a government in a state previously resistant to the party's platform, the BJP expands its administrative footprint in eastern India, though the allegations of financial deals by the TMC suggest a volatile and contentious relationship between the new government and the displaced opposition.
