From Nandigram to Nabanna: Suvendu Adhikari Sworn In as Bengal’s First BJP Chief Minister

Brief By Newsbrief / 12:45 PM on 09 May 2026

Suvendu Adhikari took oath as West Bengal’s first BJP chief minister on Saturday at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground, marking a historic political shift in the state. The grand swearing-in ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and nearly 20 chief ministers from NDA and BJP-ruled states, including Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.

During the event, Prime Minister Modi paid tribute to veteran leader Makhan Lal Sarkar by presenting him with a shawl and seeking his blessings. The Prime Minister also honored Rabindranath Tagore on his birth anniversary.

Adhikari began his political career with Congress before joining the Trinamool Congress, where he emerged as a key leader after the 2007 Nandigram movement. In 2020, he switched to the BJP and gained national attention after defeating Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram during the 2021 Assembly elections, later becoming Leader of Opposition in the state.