Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata

Kolkata, May 9: In a historic political development, Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the chief minister of West Bengal on Friday, marking the state’s first-ever BJP-led government.

The oath of office was administered at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata by Governor R N Ravi in a grand ceremony attended by top national leaders and several Chief Ministers from BJP and NDA-ruled states.

Adhikari becomes the ninth Chief Minister of West Bengal, succeeding Mamata Banerjee, who had held office since 2011 and led the state for 15 years.

The event was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, along with several senior BJP leaders and Union Ministers.

Chief Ministers including Yogi Adityanath, Pushkar Singh Dhami, Conrad Sangma, N. Chandrababu Naidu, Bhupendra Patel, and Samrat Choudhary were also present at the ceremony.

Union Ministers Ram Mohan Naidu, Dharmendra Pradhan and Jayant Chaudhary attended the swearing-in event as well.

After taking charge, Adhikari emphasised that his government would function on the principle of collective leadership rather than centralised decision-making. He stated that governance would be based on teamwork within the Cabinet, along with improved coordination between the state and the Centre.

He also indicated that his administration would focus on collaborative governance, saying the state would be run as a “we” rather than an “I” leadership model.

Adhikari’s political journey has been closely linked with West Bengal’s recent political shifts. He played a prominent role during the Nandigram movement and was once considered a close aide of Mamata Banerjee. He left the Trinamool Congress in 2021 after differences surfaced in 2019 and later became a key figure in the BJP’s campaign against the ruling party.