Suvendu Adhikari Sworn in as West Bengal's First BJP Chief Minister
Suvendu Adhikari has officially taken office as the first Chief Minister from the Bharatiya Janata Party in West Bengal, a significant milestone that ends the Trinamool Congress's long-standing governance. The ceremony, held on Rabindranath Tagore's birth anniversary, also saw the appointment of key ministers, including Ashok Kirtania and Khudiram Tudu, reflecting the new administration's commitment to diverse communities. This shift in leadership is seen as a pivotal moment in the state's political history, promising a new era of governance.
May 9, 2026, 13:04 IST
Historic Swearing-In Ceremony
Suvendu Adhikari took the oath today as the inaugural Chief Minister of West Bengal from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This event, held at the expansive Brigade Parade Ground on the birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, marks a significant end to the 15-year rule of the Trinamool Congress and symbolizes the commencement of what the party describes as a dual-engine era. While all eyes were on Adhikari, the appointment of five key ministerial colleagues indicated the strategic direction of the new administration. Additionally, BJP legislators Ashok Kirtania and Khudiram Tudu also took their oaths as ministers of West Bengal.
Introducing Ashok Kirtania and Khudiram Tudu
Ashok Kirtania
Kirtania, representing the Matua community from the Bangaon North constituency, joining the cabinet reflects the government's commitment to the welfare of Scheduled Caste voters and refugees. He has a background in trade and local organizational politics.
Khudiram Tudu
A prominent tribal leader from the Jungle Mahal region, Tudu's swearing-in highlights the BJP's focus on developing tribal areas in the state, aiming to bring long-awaited progress to historically marginalized districts.
Adhikari himself hails from a Brahmin background. Political analysts suggest that the selection of the first six ministers from diverse caste backgrounds serves as an indirect message from the BJP that the new state government will prioritize all communities equally. Notably, whenever Union Home Minister Amit Shah campaigned in Bengal, he was often asked who would be the Chief Minister of the first BJP-led government in West Bengal. Instead of naming anyone, Shah consistently stated that the new Chief Minister would be a son of the soil, a Bengali who received his education in the Bengali medium.