Prime Minister Narendra Modi honored BJP veteran Makhanlal Sarkar during a historic oath-taking ceremony in Kolkata, where Suvendu Adhikari became chief minister.
This transition marks the first time the BJP has led a state government in West Bengal since India's independence. The ceremony serves as both a political milestone for the party and a symbolic gesture of respect toward the grassroots workers who built the organization in the region.
During the event, Modi performed a "dandwat pranam," bowing down to touch the feet of Sarkar [1]. Sarkar is 98 years old [2] and is recognized as a legend within the party for his decades of ground-level organizational work in West Bengal [2].
The gesture was intended to acknowledge the long-standing contributions of party workers who operated without high-profile recognition for years [1]. By highlighting Sarkar's role, Modi said the importance of grassroots loyalty is key as the party takes control of the state administration [1].
Alongside the tribute to Sarkar, the ceremony focused on the swearing-in of Suvendu Adhikari. Adhikari's appointment as chief minister represents a significant shift in the political landscape of the state [1].
Modi's actions during the ceremony were described as reflecting his image as a "pradhan sevak," or chief servant, by prioritizing the recognition of a senior party worker over the immediate festivities of the new government [1].
“Suvendu Adhikari became West Bengal’s first BJP chief minister since independence.”
The appointment of Suvendu Adhikari as the first BJP chief minister of West Bengal ends a decades-long streak of non-BJP governance in the state. By publicly honoring a 98-year-old grassroots worker, Prime Minister Modi is signaling that the party's new authority in the region is rooted in long-term organizational persistence rather than just recent electoral gains.
