Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed a full prostration bow, known as sashtang pranam, during the West Bengal Chief Minister swearing-in ceremony on May 9, 2026 [1].
The event marks a historic political shift in the region, as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured its first Chief Minister in West Bengal since independence.
The ceremony took place at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata, where Suvendu Adhikari (BJP) was sworn into office [1]. During the proceedings, Modi bowed in full prostration before the gathered crowd as a gesture of respect and celebration [1].
This public display follows a landslide victory for the BJP in the West Bengal assembly election. The party won 207 of the 293 available seats [1]. The scale of the win represents a decisive mandate for the party in a state that has historically been a stronghold for opposition forces.
The sashtang pranam is a traditional sign of deep reverence. By performing this act at the Brigade Parade Ground, the Prime Minister signaled the significance of the electoral outcome to the local populace [1].
Adhikari's appointment as Chief Minister concludes a long-term effort by the BJP to establish a governing presence in the state. The transition of power follows the certification of the 207 seats won by the party [1].
“Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as West Bengal's first BJP Chief Minister since independence.”
The BJP's victory and the subsequent appointment of Suvendu Adhikari break a decades-long political monopoly in West Bengal. The Prime Minister's use of a traditional prostration bow suggests a strategic attempt to blend national political triumph with local cultural humility, aiming to solidify the party's legitimacy in a historically resistant state.
