Kolkata: West Bengal is set to witness a historic political transition today as senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari takes oath as the state’s first-ever Bharatiya Janata Party Chief Minister at Kolkata’s iconic Brigade Parade Ground. The massive ceremony is expected to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and several NDA chief ministers, turning the event into one of the BJP’s biggest political showcases in eastern India.
Adhikari was formally elected leader of the BJP legislature party on Friday during a crucial meeting held in Kolkata under the supervision of Amit Shah. The announcement ended days of speculation over who would lead the BJP government after the party’s landslide victory in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
The BJP secured 207 seats in the 294-member Assembly, ending the Trinamool Congress’ 15-year rule and opening a completely new chapter in Bengal politics. Adhikari’s rise is being viewed as especially symbolic because he was once considered one of Mamata Banerjee’s closest lieutenants before switching to the BJP in 2020 and eventually becoming the face of the party’s Bengal campaign.
Preparations at Brigade Parade Ground continued through the night with multi-layered security arrangements across central Kolkata. Thousands of BJP workers are expected to attend the swearing-in, while special invitations have reportedly been sent to industrialists, artists, judges and prominent public figures. Strict SPG-level security checks have also been implemented due to the presence of Prime Minister Modi and other senior leaders.
Political observers believe the ceremony is designed not just as an oath-taking event but as a symbolic declaration of BJP’s arrival as Bengal’s dominant political force. The party is also expected to unveil a “Team BJP” governance model, with reports suggesting the possibility of deputy chief ministers and a Maharashtra-style cabinet structure.
The swearing-in comes amid heightened political tension in the state following post-poll violence and the murder of Chandranath Rath, a close aide of Suvendu Adhikari, earlier this week. Security agencies remain on high alert across several districts ahead of the ceremony.