Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the Chief Minister of West Bengal on Saturday, leading the first BJP government in the state’s history.
Governor RN Ravi administered the oath of office and secrecy to Adhikari at a large ceremony held at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata.
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The event was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers, chief ministers from NDA-ruled states and several senior BJP leaders.
#WATCH Kolkata | BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari greets PM Narendra Modi and other senior leaders of the NDA after taking oath as the Chief Minister of West Bengal pic.twitter.com/xjgOgTh6U9
— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2026
Crowds gather at Brigade Parade Ground
Thousands of supporters gathered at the venue hours before the swearing-in ceremony began. Around 20 jhalmuri stalls were set up across Brigade Parade Ground, with many attendees seen enjoying the popular Bengali street snack while waiting for the programme to start.
One of the notable moments during the ceremony came when Prime Minister Modi sought the blessings of 98-year-old BJP veteran Makhanlal Sarkar.
Sarkar is considered among the BJP’s oldest grassroots leaders in Bengal and has remained associated with nationalist politics since the early years after Independence.
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In 1952, he was arrested in Kashmir while accompanying Syama Prasad Mukherjee during the movement to hoist the Indian tricolour there.
Following the BJP’s formation in 1980, Sarkar played an organisational role across West Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling districts. He helped enrol nearly 10,000 party members within a year and later served seven consecutive years as district president.
#WATCH | Kolkata | PM Modi felicitates and takes blessings of Makhanlal Sarkar, one of the most senior workers of the BJP in West Bengal.
— ANI (@ANI) May 9, 2026
In 1952, Makhanlal Sarkar was arrested in Kashmir while accompanying Syama Prasad Mukherjee during the movement to hoist the Indian pic.twitter.com/gpmLISKYZ5
Tight security across Kolkata
Security arrangements across Kolkata were significantly tightened ahead of the swearing-in ceremony.
Heavy deployment of police and central forces was seen outside Adhikari’s Chinar Park residence, Brigade Parade Ground and outside former chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence in Kalighat.
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Security was also intensified at the RCTC Ground, where Prime Minister Modi was expected to land before attending the ceremony.
Officials put in place a multi-layered security setup at Brigade Parade Ground to manage the large gathering and movement of VIPs during the event.
