Hours before taking oath as West Bengal’s first Bharatiya Janata Party Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari hailed the moment as a turning point in the state’s political history and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for what he described as the beginning of a new era for Bengal.
In a message posted on social media ahead of Saturday’s swearing-in ceremony, Adhikari said the formation of the BJP government marked the end of decades of political decline and the beginning of a “Sonar Bangla” vision centred on development, stability and governance.
Adhikari Calls BJP Victory ‘Historic Dawn’ for Bengal
Sharing his thoughts before the oath-taking event at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground, Adhikari described Prime Minister Modi’s presence in the city as a moment of pride for BJP supporters across the state.
He said Bengal was witnessing a “historic dawn” as the BJP prepared to form its first government in the state since Independence, adding that the new administration would usher in a “double-engine government” focused on peace, prosperity and rapid growth.
Adhikari also linked the victory to the ideological aspirations of the BJP’s founding leadership and said the mandate reflected the public’s desire for political change in the state.
Top BJP Leadership to Attend Swearing-In
The oath ceremony is expected to witness the presence of several senior BJP leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president Nitin Nabin, Union ministers and chief ministers from NDA-ruled states.
The BJP leadership is treating the Bengal transition as one of the party’s biggest political breakthroughs in recent decades after successfully ending the 15-year rule of the All India Trinamool Congress.
BJP Legislature Party Elects Adhikari Unanimously
On Friday, Amit Shah formally announced Adhikari as leader of the BJP legislature party following a meeting with newly elected MLAs in Kolkata.
According to Shah, eight separate proposals were submitted during the meeting, and every proposal unanimously endorsed Adhikari for the top post.
The announcement officially cleared the path for him to become the next Chief Minister of West Bengal.
From Nandigram Battle to Bengal’s Top Post
Adhikari’s political rise has been closely tied to his electoral battles against Mamata Banerjee.
He first emerged as one of the BJP’s most prominent leaders in Bengal after defeating Banerjee in the high-profile Nandigram contest during the 2021 Assembly elections.
In the 2026 elections, Adhikari once again challenged Banerjee, this time in Bhabanipur, where he secured victory by a margin exceeding 15,000 votes while also retaining his traditional Nandigram seat.
These victories helped cement his image as one of the BJP’s strongest regional leaders and paved the way for his elevation as the party’s chief ministerial face in Bengal.
BJP Begins New Political Chapter in Bengal
With Adhikari preparing to take oath, the BJP is set to begin its first term in power in West Bengal — a development being viewed as a major political realignment in eastern India.
The transition also marks one of the most significant shifts in Bengal politics in decades, bringing an end to the long dominance of the Trinamool Congress and opening a new phase in the state’s political landscape.
