Suvendu Adhikari (BJP) took the oath of office on Saturday, May 9, 2026, as the first BJP chief minister of West Bengal [1].
The appointment marks a historic political shift in the state, ending decades of non-BJP rule since India's independence [2]. This transition follows a majority victory for the BJP in the 2026 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election [3].
The ceremony took place at 11 a.m. [4] at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata [5]. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the event to witness the swearing-in [6].
Adhikari was not the only official to take an oath during the proceedings. Five ministers were sworn in alongside the chief minister to form the new state government [7].
The event at the Brigade Parade Ground served as the official commencement of the first BJP-led administration in the region's history [5]. The presence of the prime minister and home minister underscored the national importance of the party's breakthrough in West Bengal [6].
“Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the first BJP Chief Minister of West Bengal since India’s independence”
The establishment of a BJP government in West Bengal represents a fundamental realignment of power in one of India's most politically volatile states. By securing a majority in the 2026 assembly elections, the BJP has dismantled a long-standing political stronghold, potentially altering the balance of power between the central government and the state administration.
