Suvendu Adhikari Sworn In as West Bengal CM, Urges Unity Over Division

Suvendu Adhikari made history on Saturday as he was sworn in as West Bengal’s ninth Chief Minister at the Brigade Parade Ground, marking the BJP’s first-ever government in the state after ending 15 years of Trinamool Congress rule under Mamata Banerjee. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were among the prominent leaders present at the landmark ceremony.

A Visit to Jorasanko and a Message of Inclusion

Immediately after the swearing-in, Adhikari proceeded to Jorasanko Thakurbari, the ancestral home of Rabindranath Tagore, to pay tribute on the poet’s 166th birth anniversary. When supporters in the crowd began chanting “Jai Shri Ram,” Adhikari firmly asked them to stop, stating that only the poet’s name should be invoked at that sacred site. “I am the Chief Minister, and now I belong to everyone,” he declared, signalling a clear and deliberate shift in tone from campaign rhetoric.

Development Over Politics

Adhikari outlined his priorities as rebuilding Bengal’s education and cultural fabric, which he said had been severely damaged under the previous administration. “This is not the time for political bickering. We have huge responsibilities ahead of us,” he said. Adhikari, who defeated Banerjee in the Bhabanipur constituency, called on citizens to collectively work toward a stronger, more prosperous Bengal, distancing himself from controversy from the very first day in office.