Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the swearing-in ceremony for Suvendu Adhikari as the chief minister of West Bengal on May 9, 2026 [1].
The event marks a historic political shift in the region, as it establishes the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state's history [1], [2].
The ceremony took place at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata [1], [4]. According to reports, the proceedings began at 11 a.m. [3]. The arrival of Prime Minister Modi signaled the central government's significant investment in the transition of power following the 2026 West Bengal assembly election [1], [2].
Adhikari assumed the leadership role after the BJP secured a victory in the assembly elections [1], [2]. This transition follows the resignation of the previous government led by Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress [2].
During the ceremony, three ministers were named in reports as having taken the oath of office alongside the new chief minister [3]. The event was attended by high-ranking officials, including Amit Shah [3].
The selection of the Brigade Parade Ground for the oath-taking serves as a symbolic gesture, as the venue has historically been a center for large-scale political gatherings in Kolkata [1], [4].
“the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state's history”
The formation of a BJP government in West Bengal ends decades of dominance by the Left Front and the Trinamool Congress. By installing Suvendu Adhikari as chief minister, the BJP secures a strategic stronghold in eastern India, potentially aligning state administration more closely with the central government's national agenda.
