Suvendu Adhikari Sworn in as West Bengal's First BJP Chief Minister
Historic Oath-Taking Ceremony
Kolkata. On Saturday, Suvendu Adhikari made history by becoming the first Chief Minister from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal. He took his oath in Bengali, invoking the name of God. Following the ceremony, Suvendu approached the Prime Minister and bowed in respect.
West Bengal's Governor, R.N. Ravi, administered the oath to Suvendu along with five other legislators, including Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Ashok Kirtania, Khudiram Tudu, and Nishith Pramanik.
The oath-taking event was attended by PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and 20 Chief Ministers from NDA and BJP-ruled states. PM Modi began the ceremony by paying tribute to Rabindranath Tagore on his birth anniversary.
During the event, the Prime Minister honored BJP's 98-year-old worker, Makhanlal Sarkar, by draping a shawl over him and touching his feet as a mark of respect.
Meet the Newly Sworn-in Ministers
1. Dilip Ghosh: A two-time MLA from the Kharagpur Sadar constituency, he has also served as an MP from the Medinipur Lok Sabha seat. He has held the positions of BJP's General Secretary and State President and holds a diploma in engineering.
2. Agnimitra Paul: Representing the Asansol South assembly seat, Agnimitra was first elected in 2021 and secured a second term in 2026. She contested the 2022 Asansol Lok Sabha by-election and the 2024 Medinipur Lok Sabha election but faced defeats in both.
3. Ashok Kirtania: At 52, Ashok is the MLA from the Bangaon Uttar seat and belongs to the Matua community. He is both a politician and a businessman.
4. Khudiram Tudu: An MLA from the Rani Bandh assembly seat, Khudiram is a former teacher who won against TMC candidate Tanushree Hansda in the 2026 assembly elections. He is a graduate and has been active in tribal areas.
5. Nishith Pramanik: Elected for the first time from the Mathabhanga assembly seat in 2026, Nishith previously served as an MP from the Cooch Behar Lok Sabha seat in 2019. He has held positions as Minister of State for Home Affairs and Youth Affairs and Sports but faced defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Ceremony Highlights
The Prime Minister paid homage to Rabindranath Tagore during the ceremony, coinciding with the 165th anniversary of the poet's birth according to the Bengali calendar.
PM Modi also honored BJP worker Makhanlal Sarkar, who was arrested during the 1952 Kashmir movement for raising the national flag alongside Syama Prasad Mukherjee.
The Prime Minister conducted a roadshow from the entrance to the stage, accompanied by Samik Bhattacharya and Suvendu Adhikari.
Suvendu, born in 1970 in the village of Kontali in Purba Medinipur, has had a spiritual inclination since childhood. He regularly visited the Ramakrishna Mission every Saturday, leading his family to worry that he might choose a monastic life.
Despite this, Suvendu opted for a political career instead of renouncing the world, deciding against marriage as well.
His political journey began in the late 1980s at Prabhat Kumar College in Kanthi, where he gradually established a distinct identity in Purba Medinipur.