Prime Minister Narendra Modi drew loud cheers at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground on Saturday as he bowed before the people of West Bengal moments after stepping onto the stage during the BJP government’s swearing-in ceremony. The gesture quickly became one of the most talked-about visuals of the day, with the Prime Minister later sharing the video on social media and thanking the people of the state for placing their faith in the BJP.
The ceremony marked the BJP’s first opportunity to form a government in West Bengal after Independence, following the party’s decisive victory in the Assembly elections.
Modi’s gesture sparks emotional response
As he arrived on stage, Prime Minister Modi briefly knelt down and folded his hands towards the gathering, acknowledging the crowd at Brigade Parade Ground. The moment was met with thunderous chants of “Modi-Modi” from supporters packed across the venue.
In a post shared later, the Prime Minister wrote, “I bow down before the power of the people of West Bengal. The blessings of the people are the real strength of democracy and the greatest source of public resolve. I salute them.”
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Though he did not deliver a separate speech at the event, Modi continued greeting supporters by waving and folding his hands throughout the programme.
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Grand arrival at Brigade Parade Ground
Prime Minister Modi reached Brigade Ground in an open-top vehicle along with newly sworn-in Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and West Bengal BJP president Shamik Bhattacharya. Supporters lined the venue to catch a glimpse of the Prime Minister as slogans echoed across the parade ground.
The BJP described the swearing-in event as a “historic” moment in Bengal politics. Several senior BJP leaders attended the programme, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Chief Ministers from BJP-ruled states were also present on special invitation.
Also Read | Suvendu Adhikari takes oath as West Bengal’s 9th Chief Minister
Campaign prediction turns reality
During the election campaign, Prime Minister Modi had repeatedly expressed confidence about BJP’s prospects in Bengal. At a rally in Barrackpore on the final day of campaigning, he had said, “Seeing Bengal's mood, it seems I will have to come again for the swearing-in. I will come again for BJP's swearing-in.”
The BJP’s victory on May 4 turned that prediction into reality, ending the Trinamool Congress’s 15-year rule in the state. Saturday’s ceremony at Brigade Parade Ground was positioned by the party as the beginning of a new political chapter in West Bengal.
