PM Modi Bows to Crowds During Suvendu Adhikari's Oath as Bengal CM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi bowed to the public with folded hands at the Brigade Parade Grounds in Kolkata on May 9, 2026, during the swearing-in of Suvendu Adhikari as West Bengal's chief minister, in a symbolic gesture of gratitude for the BJP's first electoral victory in the state. Governor RN Ravi administered the oaths of office and secrecy to Adhikari and five cabinet ministers, following the BJP's win of 207 seats in the 294-member assembly, ending the Trinamool Congress's 15-year rule.

The cabinet includes Dilip Ghosh (OBC), Agnimitra Paul (Kayastha), Ashok Kirtania (Matua), Kshudiram Tudu (tribal), and Nishit Pramanik (Rajbongshi), reflecting the BJP's push for social representation in its inaugural Bengal government. Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah attended the ceremony, underscoring the national leadership's direct involvement in the state's political transition.

Adhikari, a former Trinamool Congress leader who defected to the BJP ahead of the polls, now leads a government formed after one of the most significant electoral shifts in Bengal's recent history. The chief minister's office will release the full portfolio allocation and legislative agenda in the coming days.