Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as the first BJP Chief Minister of West Bengal on Saturday [1].
The event marks a significant political shift in the region, ending 15 years of rule by the Trinamool Congress after a decisive electoral victory.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata, beginning around 11 a.m. [2]. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah attended the proceedings to oversee the transition of power [1].
The BJP secured a historic victory in the 2026 West Bengal assembly election, winning 207 seats [3]. This mandate allows the party to establish its first government in the state.
Alongside the Chief Minister, several officials took their oaths of office. While some reports indicated five ministers would be sworn in [1], other records show three BJP MLAs — Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, and Nishit Pramanik — took the oath as ministers [4].
The ceremony follows a period of intense political transition in the state. The timing of the government formation coincides with the birth anniversary of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, which occurred on May 7 [3].
Adhikari now leads a cabinet tasked with implementing the BJP's platform following the landslide win [3]. The presence of top national leadership at the Brigade Parade Ground underscores the strategic importance the party places on its new administration in West Bengal [1].
“Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as the first BJP Chief Minister of West Bengal”
The ascent of Suvendu Adhikari to the Chief Minister's office represents the culmination of the BJP's long-term strategy to penetrate the West Bengal political landscape. By securing 207 seats, the party has moved from a position of opposition to a dominant majority, fundamentally altering the power dynamics of Eastern India and removing a primary stronghold of the Trinamool Congress.
