09 May,2026 12:29 PM IST | Kolkata | mid-day online correspondent
Pic/PTI
BJP legislature party leader Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the chief minister of West Bengal on Saturday, heading the first BJP government in the state.
Governor RN Ravi administered the oath of office and secrecy to Adhikari at a grand ceremony held at the Brigade Parade Grounds.
The swearing-in ceremony, held in Kolkata, was attended by several senior BJP leaders and chief ministers from BJP-ruled states, reflecting the significance of the party's breakthrough in the eastern state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP president JP Nadda and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan were among the prominent leaders present during the oath-taking ceremony.
Chief Ministers including Himanta Biswa Sarma, Manik Saha, Rekha Gupta and Pushkar Singh Dhami also attended the event and congratulated Adhikari on the BJP's landmark electoral victory in West Bengal.
The BJP Legislature Party had earlier unanimously elected Suvendu Adhikari as its leader following the party's decisive mandate in the Assembly elections. Adhikari emerged as one of the biggest winners of the election, securing victories from both Bhabanipur and Nandigram, two of the most closely watched constituencies in the state.
According to Election Commission data, Adhikari defeated outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur by a margin of 15,105 votes after the final round of counting. In Nandigram, Adhikari secured 1,27,301 votes, further strengthening his position as the BJP's leading face in the state.
The 2026 West Bengal Assembly election results marked a major political shift in the state. The BJP won 207 seats in the 294-member Assembly, comfortably crossing the majority mark and ending the Trinamool Congress' 15-year rule in West Bengal. The TMC managed to secure only 80 seats, recording one of its weakest performances since coming to power in 2011.
Political observers have described the BJP's victory as one of the most significant electoral gains for the party in eastern India. With Suvendu Adhikari now taking charge as Chief Minister, attention will shift toward the BJP government's policy direction and its efforts to consolidate support in a state long dominated by the Trinamool Congress.
The elections also witnessed record-breaking voter participation across the state. West Bengal reported one of its highest-ever voter turnouts since Independence, with Phase II recording 91.66 per cent polling. Combined voter turnout across the first two phases stood at an impressive 92.47 per cent, reflecting high public engagement in the fiercely contested election.
The high turnout and dramatic change in political leadership have made the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections one of the most closely followed state elections in recent years, with the BJP now preparing to form its first-ever government in the state.
