Suvendu Adhikari Sworn In As West Bengal's First BJP Chief Minister

Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as the Chief Minister of West Bengal on Saturday, succeeding Mamata Banerjee who had held the position for 15 years. The oath ceremony was administered by Governor RN Ravi at Kolkata's Brigade Parade Ground, with several top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in attendance.

Adhikari, who played a key role in the Trinamool Congress' Nandigram stir, later quit the party in 2021 and led the BJP's charge against the government. He has stated that he will run the new state administration on the basis of collective leadership.

The BJP won 207 seats in the 294-member West Bengal Assembly, delivering a significant blow to the Trinamool Congress, which managed 80 seats. This marks the second state to have a BJP chief minister for the first time, following Bihar last month.

The immediate next steps for the new government include the formation of the cabinet and the implementation of its policies. The West Bengal Assembly is expected to convene soon to facilitate the transition of power.