Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as the chief minister of West Bengal on Saturday at the Brigade Parade Grounds in Kolkata [1, 2].
The transition marks a historic shift in regional power, as Adhikari becomes the first member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to lead the state [1]. This change follows the 2026 assembly elections, which ended the 15-year administration of Mamata Banerjee [3].
Governor RN Ravi administered the oath of office to Adhikari, who is the ninth person to hold the position of chief minister in West Bengal [1, 3]. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the ceremony to mark the BJP's victory in the state [1, 3].
The electoral process leading to this change saw significant public engagement. During the first phase of the West Bengal elections, voter turnout reached 91.58% [4].
Adhikari succeeds Banerjee, who had held the chief minister's office since 2011 [3]. The ceremony at the Brigade Parade Grounds served as the formal handover of power from the previous administration to the new BJP-led government [1, 2].
The appointment of Adhikari, the BJP legislature party leader, signals a new policy direction for the state after more than a decade of rule by the All India Trudance Congress [1, 3].
“Suvendu Adhikari becomes the ninth Chief Minister of West Bengal”
The appointment of Suvendu Adhikari represents a major political realignment in West Bengal. By breaking a 15-year streak of governance under Mamata Banerjee, the BJP has established a foothold in a state that was previously a stronghold of the opposition. This shift likely indicates a change in the state's administrative priorities and its relationship with the central government in New Delhi.
