PM Modi Bows to Bengal’s ‘Jana Shakti’ as Suvendu Adhikari Takes Oath as First BJP Chief Minister

Kolkata, May 2026 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hailed the people of West Bengal and bowed before them at the swearing-in ceremony of Suvendu Adhikari, who took oath as the state’s first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Minister since Independence.

The grand ceremony, held at the historic Brigade Parade Grounds in Kolkata, marked a major political turning point in West Bengal after the BJP secured a sweeping mandate in the recently concluded Assembly elections.

Prime Minister Modi arrived in Kolkata amid tight security and a festive atmosphere. Soon after entering the venue, he was joined by Chief Minister-designate Suvendu Adhikari and West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya for a roadshow-like procession inside the grounds. The trio rode in an open-air jeep, waving to thousands of BJP workers, supporters and party leaders who had gathered to witness the historic occasion.

The Brigade Parade Grounds had been decorated in saffron colours, with giant party flags, banners and cultural displays adding to the celebratory mood. Traditional drummers and folk artists performed throughout the event, creating an atmosphere of enthusiasm and political triumph.

After greeting supporters during the open jeep ride, PM Modi proceeded to the main stage where several senior leaders of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) were present. Among those attending the ceremony were Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Ministers, BJP chief ministers from various states and top party functionaries.

One of the most emotional moments of the event came when Prime Minister Modi met Makhanlal Sarkar, among the oldest and most respected BJP workers in West Bengal. Modi greeted the veteran leader warmly, draped a shawl over his shoulders and bowed to seek his blessings, drawing loud applause from the audience.

Later, standing on the stage beside senior BJP leaders, PM Modi waved to the crowd and folded his hands before supporters in gratitude for the massive mandate given to the BJP in Bengal. In a message shared on social media after the ceremony, the Prime Minister wrote, “I bow to the Jana Shakti of West Bengal!” He also shared a video clip capturing the moment.

Soon after, Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the ninth Chief Minister of West Bengal in the presence of the Prime Minister, Governor Ravi and several dignitaries. His swearing-in officially marked the end of the Trinamool Congress government’s 15-year rule in the state.

The BJP registered a historic victory in the Assembly elections by winning 207 seats in the 294-member Assembly, comfortably crossing the majority mark. The Trinamool Congress, which had dominated Bengal politics for over a decade, was reduced to 80 seats, a sharp decline from the 215 seats it had secured in the 2021 elections.

Political observers described the event as the beginning of a new political chapter in West Bengal, with the BJP promising a “double-engine government” aimed at accelerating development and strengthening coordination between the Centre and the state.