Suvendu Adhikari to be sworn in as West Bengal's first BJP CM today
Synopsis
West Bengal is set to get its first-ever BJP Chief Minister as Suvendu Adhikari — the man who defeated Mamata Banerjee not once but twice — takes the oath of office at Brigade Parade Ground on 9 May. It is a landmark moment in Indian electoral history, ending decades of Left and TMC dominance in one of the country's most politically contested states.
Key Takeaways
Suvendu Adhikari will be sworn in as West Bengal's first BJP Chief Minister on 9 May at Brigade Parade Ground , Kolkata.
Home Minister Amit Shah announced Adhikari's name on 8 May after a unanimous legislature party vote — all eight proposals named only Adhikari.
Adhikari defeated former CM Mamata Banerjee at Bhabanipur by over 15,000 votes , having previously beaten her at Nandigram in 2021.
PM Narendra Modi , HM Amit Shah , and chief ministers of all NDA -ruled states are expected at the ceremony.
The BJP's win ends decades of non-BJP rule in West Bengal since Independence.
Suvendu Adhikari is set to be sworn in on Saturday, 9 May as West Bengal's first-ever Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Minister at a grand ceremony at the iconic Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata. The swearing-in marks a seismic shift in the state's political landscape, ending decades of unbroken non-BJP rule since Independence.
Who Will Attend the Ceremony
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, Union ministers, and chief ministers of all NDA-ruled states are expected to be present at Brigade Parade Ground. The high-profile attendance underscores the national significance the BJP has attached to its maiden electoral win in West Bengal.
How Adhikari Was Chosen
Home Minister Amit Shah officially announced Adhikari's name on Friday, 8 May, following a meeting with newly elected BJP legislators. The decision came in the wake of West Bengal Assembly election results declared on 4 May.
Shah said at the meeting:
Point of View
Her own traditional stronghold, by over 15,000 votes — is a humiliation that will reshape the TMC's internal calculus. Yet governing Bengal is an entirely different challenge: the state carries significant fiscal stress, a history of post-poll violence, and a bureaucracy long aligned with the outgoing dispensation. The real test for Adhikari begins the morning after the swearing-in.
NationPress
11 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Suvendu Adhikari?
Suvendu Adhikari is a senior BJP leader from West Bengal who rose to national prominence after defeating Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the 2021 Nandigram assembly election. He is set to become West Bengal's first-ever BJP Chief Minister on 9 May.
Where will Suvendu Adhikari's swearing-in ceremony be held?
The swearing-in ceremony will be held at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata on 9 May. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and NDA chief ministers are expected to attend.
How was Suvendu Adhikari selected as the BJP's Chief Minister candidate?
Adhikari was selected unanimously at a legislature party meeting chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah on 8 May. All eight proposals received at the meeting named only Adhikari, with no second name put forward.
Did Suvendu Adhikari defeat Mamata Banerjee in the 2025 elections?
Yes, Adhikari defeated Mamata Banerjee at the Bhabanipur constituency in South Kolkata by a margin of over 15,000 votes. He had previously defeated her at Nandigram in the 2021 Assembly elections as well.
Why is this swearing-in historically significant?
This is the first time since Independence that the BJP will govern West Bengal, ending decades of Left Front and then Trinamool Congress dominance. Adhikari becomes the state's first-ever BJP Chief Minister.
