Suvendu Adhikari took the oath of office as West Bengal’s first BJP chief minister on Saturday at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata.
The event marks a historic shift in the state's political landscape, ending the 15-year [2] tenure of the Trinamool Congress. This transition places West Bengal under the control of the Bharatiya Janata Party for the first time since the state's formation.
The swearing-in ceremony began at 11 a.m. on May 9, 2026 [3]. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior BJP leaders attended the event to witness the formation of the new government [1].
Adhikari assumes leadership following a decisive victory in the 2026 state assembly elections. The BJP secured a majority by winning 207 seats [1], a mandate that enables the party to govern without a coalition partner.
Along with the chief minister, several other party members were sworn in as ministers. The list of appointees includes Dilip Ghosh, and Agnimitra Paul [2].
The ceremony at the Brigade Parade Ground served as the formal transition of power. The BJP victory breaks a long-standing political barrier in the region, a result that the party views as a mandate for a new direction in state administration [1].
“Suvendu Adhikari took the oath of office as West Bengal’s first BJP chief minister.”
The ascent of Suvendu Adhikari and the BJP to power in West Bengal represents a significant realignment of power in Eastern India. By securing 207 seats, the BJP has not only ended a decade and a half of Trinamool Congress dominance but has also established a stronghold in a state that has historically been a bastion of left-wing and regionalist politics.
