Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Rabindranath Tagore on Saturday during the swearing-in ceremony for West Bengal's new chief minister [1].
The event signifies a major political transition in the state, ending 15 years of rule by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) [2]. Suvendu Adhikari of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed office at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata [1].
Before the official proceedings, Modi honored the poet and polymath on his 165th birth anniversary [1]. "I pay tribute to Rabindranath Tagore on his birth anniversary," Modi said [1].
Adhikari was sworn in as the chief minister, and five other ministers took their oaths during the ceremony [3]. The transition represents a shift in the regional power structure, moving the state's administration to the BJP for the first time in this capacity.
Adhikari linked the new administration's direction to the legacy of the honored poet. "Bengali culture will move forward with ideals of Tagore," Adhikari said [4]. He further described the poet as "an eternal star in the sky of Bengali literature and culture" [5].
The ceremony took place on May 9, 2026, drawing significant attention as the BJP established its leadership in the state [2]. The use of the Brigade Parade Ground, a traditional site for large political gatherings in Kolkata, underscored the scale of the transition [1].
“Bengali culture will move forward with ideals of Tagore.”
The appointment of Suvendu Adhikari as chief minister ends a long era of TMC dominance in West Bengal. By centering the ceremony around the 165th anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, the BJP is attempting to align its political identity with Bengali cultural heritage to build legitimacy in a region known for its strong intellectual and artistic pride.
