Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched the feet of veteran BJP worker Makhan Lal Sarkar during a swearing-in ceremony in Kolkata on Saturday [1].
The gesture occurred as Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as the first chief minister from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to lead West Bengal [1]. This transition marks a significant political shift in a state long dominated by other political factions.
During the event on May 9, 2026 [1], Modi draped a shawl over Sarkar and sought his blessings [1]. The Prime Minister's actions were intended to honor Sarkar's decades-long contribution to the party's growth and presence in the region [1].
Reports on Sarkar's exact age vary among sources. Some records state he is 97 years old [1], while other accounts list him as 98 [2].
The ceremony served as a high-profile introduction to the new state administration. By publicly honoring a veteran party worker, Modi highlighted the party's historical roots and grassroots endurance in West Bengal, a region where the BJP has sought to expand its influence for years.
Sarkar's presence at the event underscored the link between the party's early ideological workers and its current electoral success in the state [1]. The event took place in Kolkata, where the new government officially began its tenure [1].
“Modi draped a shawl on Sarkar, touched his feet and sought his blessings”
The public display of deference by Prime Minister Modi toward a veteran party worker serves as a symbolic bridge between the BJP's long-term grassroots struggle in West Bengal and its eventual ascent to power. By centering a veteran figure during Suvendu Adhikari's inauguration, the party signals that its current victory is the culmination of decades of organizational work, aiming to consolidate loyalty among old-guard supporters while establishing a new governing era in the state.
