Suvendu Adhikari (BJP) was sworn in as the chief minister of West Bengal today during a ceremony in Kolkata [1, 2].
The transition marks a historic shift in regional power, as Adhikari becomes the first member of the Bharatiya Janata Party to lead the state [1, 3]. This change follows a BJP victory in the recent assembly elections, ending a 15-year period of governance under Mamata Banerjee [3, 4].
Governor R.N. Ravi administered the oath of office at the Brigade Parade Ground [1, 2]. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the event to witness the installation of the new government [1]. Adhikari is the ninth person to hold the office of chief minister in West Bengal [2].
Alongside the chief minister, five ministers were sworn into the new administration [1, 2]. The ceremony served as the formal commencement of the BJP's mandate to govern the state after the electoral defeat of the previous administration [3, 4].
The event gathered high-ranking party officials and supporters at the parade ground, a location often used for major political rallies in the city [1, 2]. The new administration now assumes control of the state executive, inheriting the responsibilities of a government that had remained under a single leader for over a decade [2, 4].
“Suvendu Adhikari becomes the first member of the Bharatiya Janata Party to lead the state”
The installation of Suvendu Adhikari represents a fundamental realignment of West Bengal's political landscape. By breaking a 15-year streak of leadership under Mamata Banerjee, the BJP has established a foothold in a state that has historically resisted the party's influence. This shift likely signals a change in administrative priorities and a closer alignment between the state government and the central government in New Delhi.
