Suvendu Adhikari (BJP) took the oath of office as the chief minister of West Bengal during a ceremony at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata.
The transition marks a historic shift in the state's political landscape, ending 15 years of rule by the Trinamool Congress. This change follows a landslide victory for the BJP in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
Adhikari becomes the ninth chief minister of West Bengal [4]. The BJP secured a dominant majority in the legislative body, winning 207 of the 294 total seats [1, 2].
During the ceremony, five other BJP leaders were sworn in as ministers to form the new state government [3]. The event was attended by senior party leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.
While the BJP celebrated its victory, former chief minister Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress did not attend the swearing-in ceremony. Instead, she shared a tribute to Rabindranath Tagore on the day of the event.
The victory provides the BJP with a significant stronghold in eastern India, consolidating the party's power in a region previously resistant to its platform for over a decade.
“Suvendu Adhikari (BJP) took the oath of office as the chief minister of West Bengal”
The installation of Suvendu Adhikari as the first BJP chief minister in West Bengal signals a fundamental realignment of power in one of India's most politically volatile states. By capturing 207 seats, the BJP has transitioned from an opposition force to a dominant governing body, effectively dismantling the long-term hegemony of the Trinamool Congress and potentially altering the electoral dynamics of the wider eastern region.
