BJP Leader Suvendu Adhikari Sworn In as West Bengal Chief Minister
NEW DELHI: Suvendu Adhikari, a prominent leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), took the oath of office as Chief Minister of West Bengal on Saturday. The swearing-in ceremony was attended by notable figures including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, JP Nadda, and Dharmendra Pradhan, as well as the chief ministers of Tripura, Assam, Delhi, and Uttarakhand.
The BJP achieved a significant victory in the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections, winning 207 seats while the Trinamool Congress (TMC) secured 80 seats, marking the end of a 15-year tenure in power for the TMC. The elections saw a historic voter turnout, with the highest since independence: 91.66% in Phase II and 93.19% in Phase I, for a combined turnout of 92.47%.
Alongside Chief Minister Adhikari, several ministers were sworn in, including:
Dilip Ghosh
A veteran BJP leader and former state party president, Ghosh has been instrumental in bolstering the party’s grassroots organization in West Bengal since 2014. He previously served as a Member of Parliament from the Medinipur constituency and is recognized as one of the party’s key figures.
Agnimitra Paul
The cabinet includes one woman, Agnimitra Paul, who is 51 years old and served as the BJP’s Bengal vice-president. A two-time MLA from Asansol Dakshin, Paul emerged as a significant leader for women within the party during the recent election campaign. She won her seat by defeating TMC’s Tapas Banerjee by over 40,000 votes. Prior to entering politics in 2019, she was a well-known figure in Kolkata’s fashion industry, focusing on traditional crafts.
Ashok Kirtania
Kirtania represents Bangaon Uttar in North 24 Parganas, an area influenced by Matua politics. He has experience in business and local organizational politics.
Kshudiram Tudu
Tudu, a tribal leader from Bankura district, represents Ranibandh, a constituency known for its tribal population. The BJP has depended on leaders like Tudu to enhance its outreach among tribal communities in West Bengal.
Nisith Pramanik
One of the younger leaders in the BJP, Pramanik hails from North Bengal. He transitioned from the TMC to the BJP in 2019 and was appointed Minister of State for Home Affairs and Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports in July 2021 at the age of 35. He is recognized for representing the Rajbanshi community and appealing to younger voters.
The maximum permissible size of the West Bengal Council of Ministers is 44, allowing for the potential induction of 39 additional ministers.
