Kolkata, May 9
Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as the Chief Minister of West Bengal on Saturday, leading the Bharatiya Janata Party’s first-ever government in the eastern state after a sweeping election victory. R. N. Ravi administered the oath of office and secrecy to Adhikari at a ceremony held at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata.
The event was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several Union ministers, chief ministers from NDA-ruled states and senior BJP leaders. The BJP won 207 seats in the 294-member assembly, bringing an end to the All India Trinamool Congress government’s 15-year rule in the state.
Prime Minister Modi arrived at the venue amid loud chants of “Jay Shri Ram” from thousands of party supporters who had gathered since early morning to witness the swearing-in ceremony. Accompanied by state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya and Adhikari, Modi travelled in an open vehicle through the grounds, waving to supporters.
The prime minister landed at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport shortly before 10am before taking a helicopter to the Race Course ground and proceeding to the ceremony venue by road.
The BJP’s victory marks a major political shift in West Bengal, where the party had long struggled to dislodge the Trinamool Congress despite making steady gains in recent elections.
