Saturday, May 9, has become a landmark date in the history of West Bengal as the state witnessed the formation of its first-ever Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government since independence. In a grand ceremony held at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari took the oath of office as the Chief Minister of West Bengal. This significant event marks the beginning of the 'Suvendu Era' in the state, witnessed by a massive gathering of the public.
Grand Ceremony and Presence of National Leaders
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and BJP National President Nitin Nabin. Several Chief Ministers from NDA-governed states were also present, including Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta, and Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini, while numerous MPs and MLAs also joined the event. Prime Minister Modi arrived at the venue in a vehicle accompanied by Suvendu Adhikari, who was dressed in traditional saffron attire for the occasion. The Prime Minister acknowledged the cheers of the vast crowd of BJP supporters and workers by waving from his vehicle.
Tributes to Rabindranath Tagore and the Oath-Taking
The date for the ceremony, May 9, was specifically chosen as it coincides with the birth anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. Upon reaching the stage, PM Modi and Suvendu Adhikari paid floral tributes to the portrait of Gurudev, while n. Ravi administered the oath of office and secrecy to Suvendu Adhikari. After taking the oath, the new Chief Minister sought the blessings of PM Modi by touching his feet, after which the Prime Minister embraced and congratulated him.
The New Cabinet: Profiles of the 5 Ministers
Along with Suvendu Adhikari, five other prominent leaders were sworn in as ministers, ensuring representation for various communities including Brahmins, women, tribals, and the Matua community.
Dilip Ghosh
Following Suvendu Adhikari, Dilip Ghosh—counted among the BJP's prominent leaders—took the oath of office as a minister. In the Assembly elections, he secured a resounding victory from the Kharagpur seat. He defeated the Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate, Pradip Sarkar.
Agnimitra Paul
Third on the list, Agnimitra Paul took the oath as a minister. A fashion designer turned politician, Paul is regarded as a strong face of the BJP in Bengal. She joined the BJP in 2019. She serves as the MLA for Asansol South, having defeated the TMC candidate, Tapas Banerjee, in that constituency.
Ashok Kirtania
Subsequently, Ashok Kirtania, the MLA from Bangaon North, took the oath as a minister. In the Assembly elections, Kirtania defeated the TMC candidate, Biswajit Das. He represents the Bangaon North Assembly constituency in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. Kirtania primarily hails from the Matua community and has served as an MLA for two consecutive terms.
Khudiram Tudu
The next name on the list was Khudiram Tudu, the MLA from Ranibandh. He took the oath of office as a minister during the swearing-in ceremony. Tudu is recognized as a prominent tribal face in Bengal. Notably, this marks his first victory and entry into the Legislative Assembly. By profession, he is a government school teacher. In the 2026 Assembly elections, Tudu defeated Tanushree Hansda.
Nisith Pramanik
Following this, Nisith Pramanik took the oath of office and secrecy during the ceremony. He began his political journey with the TMC but joined the BJP in 2019. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he was elected as the Member of Parliament from Cooch Behar, defeating the TMC's Paresh Chandra Adhikari. He has also previously served as a Union Minister of State. In the 2026 Assembly elections, he contested from the Mathabhanga seat and defeated the TMC candidate, Dr. Sablu Barman, by a significant margin.
Suvendu Adhikari’s Victory and Election Statistics
Suvendu Adhikari, once a close aide to Mamata Banerjee, had joined the BJP after parting ways with the TMC. In the 2026 Assembly elections, he contested and won from both the Nandigram seat in his home district of East Midnapore and the Bhawanipur seat in South Kolkata. Notably, in Bhawanipur, he defeated Mamata Banerjee by a margin of over 15,000 votes. The West Bengal Assembly elections were held in two phases on April 23 and 29, 2026, with results declared on May 4. The BJP achieved a historic landslide victory by winning 207 seats, while the TMC was reduced to just 80 seats.