Suvendu Adhikari sworn in as West Bengal CM after BJP’s historic victory, marking the beginning of a new political chapter in Bengal under the party’s “Sonar Bangla” vision.
Qalam Times News Network
Kolkata, 09 May 2026
In a landmark political development, Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as the Chief Minister of West Bengal on Saturday, ushering in what the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) described as the beginning of a “Sonar Bangla” era. The oath-taking ceremony followed the BJP’s massive electoral victory in the state assembly elections, where the party secured 207 out of 293 seats.
For decades, West Bengal had remained one of the most politically challenging states for the BJP despite the party’s nationwide expansion. The formation of a BJP government in the state is being viewed as a major ideological and organisational breakthrough for the saffron party.
With Suvendu Adhikari sworn in as West Bengal CM, the state has, for the first time since Independence, got a chief minister from the BJP. Bengal politics had historically revolved around the Congress, the Left Front, and later the Trinamool Congress. BJP’s transformation from a marginal force into the ruling party now stands as one of the most dramatic political shifts in the state’s history.
Senior BJP leaders, including Amit Shah, hailed the victory as the culmination of a long political struggle and projected it as the beginning of a new political phase in eastern India.
From Municipal Councillor to Chief Minister
Suvendu Adhikari’s political journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. He began his electoral career in 1995 at the age of 31 when he won as a Congress councillor in Contai Municipality. He later joined the Trinamool Congress and gradually built a strong political base in East Midnapore.
Over the years, he served as MLA, MP, and state minister before emerging as one of the most prominent faces of the Nandigram movement. His decision to switch to the BJP in 2020 significantly altered the political landscape of Bengal.
Within five years of joining the BJP, Adhikari has now reached the state’s top political office. His rise from the narrow lanes of Contai to the corridors of power symbolizes the sweeping transformation that Bengal politics has undergone in recent decades.
The Leader Who Defeated Mamata Banerjee
Adhikari’s political stature grew substantially after the 2021 assembly elections, where he defeated Mamata Banerjee in the high-profile Nandigram constituency battle. The contest became the defining political face-off of that election and elevated Adhikari as the BJP’s strongest leader in Bengal.
Although the BJP failed to form the government in 2021, Adhikari’s victory gave the party a major psychological advantage. He later became the Leader of Opposition and aggressively led the BJP’s campaign against the Trinamool Congress government.
BJP leaders repeatedly highlighted his ability to challenge Mamata Banerjee in her own political stronghold and withstand immense political pressure. That victory ultimately cemented his image as the party’s natural chief ministerial candidate.
Unanimous Support Within BJP
The BJP leadership described Adhikari’s selection as completely unanimous. According to Amit Shah, during the BJP legislative party meeting, eight MLAs proposed Adhikari’s name and no alternative candidate was suggested despite sufficient opportunity being given.
Party insiders acknowledged that no other BJP leader in Bengal currently commands similar support among legislators. His administrative experience as a former state minister and his key role during the election campaign further strengthened his claim for the top post.
The moment Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as West Bengal CM, celebrations erupted across Contai and several parts of East Midnapore.
Midnapore Gets a Chief Minister After Decades
Adhikari’s elevation also carries strong regional significance. After Ajay Mukherjee, he has become only the second chief minister from Midnapore. He is also among the rare Bengal leaders to rise to the state’s highest office from outside Kolkata’s traditional political elite circles.
Celebrations broke out in Contai soon after his name was officially announced. Residents danced on the streets, burst firecrackers, and distributed sweets near his family residence, “Shantikunj,” which was under heavy security cover.
His father, Sisir Adhikari, remarked that Midnapore had historically remained politically neglected and expressed hope that the region would finally receive the recognition and importance it deserved.
Nandigram Movement Shaped His Political Identity
A major part of Adhikari’s political identity was forged during the 2007 Nandigram anti-land acquisition movement. The protests against land acquisition for industrial projects became one of the most decisive moments in Bengal’s political history and significantly weakened the Left Front government.
During the movement, Adhikari emerged as a grassroots organiser capable of mobilising large-scale public resistance. He also led protests against the proposed Haripur nuclear power project, strengthening his image as a leader deeply connected to local concerns and public sentiment.
These movements helped him build a loyal support base across East Midnapore long before he joined the BJP. Even today, BJP leaders portray him as a mass leader shaped by political struggles rather than organisational backing alone.
BJP Promises ‘Double-Engine Government’
The BJP has projected its victory as the beginning of a “double-engine government” in West Bengal, where both the state and central governments work in political alignment.
Adhikari repeatedly promised rapid development, infrastructure expansion, and administrative reforms during the campaign. BJP leaders argued that constant political confrontation between the Centre and the previous Trinamool Congress government had slowed Bengal’s growth.
Now, with Suvendu Adhikari sworn in as West Bengal CM, the BJP claims that coordination with the Narendra Modi-led central government will accelerate investments and governance in the state.
Grand Swearing-In Ceremony at Brigade Parade Ground
The scale of the swearing-in ceremony reflected the political importance attached to the moment. Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata was transformed into a heavily secured mega venue with seating arrangements for nearly 80,000 people.
Despite concerns over heavy rainfall, organisers erected a massive waterproof hangar while more than 1,000 workers restored waterlogged sections of the ground. BJP leaders also kept Netaji Indoor Stadium ready as an alternative venue.
The stage was divided into separate sections for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, NDA chief ministers, the Governor, and members of the new cabinet. The elaborate arrangements made it clear that the BJP wanted the ceremony to be seen not merely as an administrative event but as a historic political milestone.
Writers’ Buildings Returns to Political Spotlight
One of the most symbolic aspects of the transition has been the renewed focus on the iconic Writers’ Buildings, the colonial-era structure historically associated with Bengal’s seat of power.
Ahead of Adhikari’s arrival, the building was illuminated in saffron hues, symbolising the BJP’s ascent in Bengal politics. Officials also prepared a temporary chief minister’s office there for his first symbolic visit after taking oath.
The BJP’s decision to revive the political significance of Writers’ Buildings carries a strong message. For the saffron camp, Adhikari entering the historic complex represents not only a transfer of power but also the arrival of a completely new political order in West Bengal.
