Suvendu Adhikari took the oath of office as the chief minister of West Bengal on May 9, 2026 [3].
This appointment marks a historic shift in the region's governance, as Adhikari is the first member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to serve as the state's chief minister since India's independence [2].
Governor RN Ravi administered the oath during a ceremony held at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata [1]. The event was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, signaling the central government's support for the new administration [2].
Adhikari assumed leadership after the BJP secured a decisive victory in the West Bengal state assembly election [1]. This electoral success allowed the party to form the state government and end years of opposition to the ruling party in the region [1].
Alongside the chief minister, five other MLAs were sworn into office [4]. These five ministers will form the core of the new state cabinet as the BJP begins its first tenure of executive power in West Bengal [5].
The ceremony at the Brigade Parade Ground served as the formal transition of power, a move that reorganizes the political landscape of eastern India [2].
“Suvendu Adhikari is the first member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to serve as the state's chief minister since India's independence.”
The installation of a BJP government in West Bengal represents a significant breach of a long-standing political stronghold. By securing the chief minister's office for the first time since independence, the BJP has expanded its administrative footprint in eastern India, potentially altering the balance of power between the central government and the state.
