Suvendu Adhikari sworn in as Bengal CM, vows to rebuild education and culture
Synopsis
Hours after being sworn in as West Bengal's ninth Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari visited Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home at Jorasanko and declared he had no time to criticise opponents — only to rebuild a state he described as having suffered deeply in education and culture.
Key Takeaways
Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as West Bengal's ninth Chief Minister on Saturday, 9 May .
He visited Jorasanko, Kolkata — the ancestral home of Rabindranath Tagore — on the occasion of Tagore's birth anniversary as per the Bengali calendar.
Adhikari said rebuilding education and culture in West Bengal is his foremost priority.
He pledged to refrain from making controversial statements and said he had "no time to criticise others." He cited Tagore's lines on freedom of mind and knowledge as a personal source of inspiration.
Newly sworn-in West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday, 9 May struck a conciliatory tone in his first public remarks after taking oath as the state's ninth Chief Minister, declaring that restoring Bengal's standing in education and culture was his overriding priority — and that he had no time to engage in political point-scoring.
Adhikari's First Message as Chief Minister
Speaking to mediapersons at the ancestral home of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore at Jorasanko in Kolkata, Chief Minister Adhikari outlined the scale of the challenge he sees ahead.
Point of View
He is attempting to reframe the BJP's Bengal project as a civilisational restoration rather than a political conquest. The real test, however, lies in what his government does with the education and cultural institutions that have long been battlegrounds of patronage politics in the state. Statesmanlike optics on day one are the easy part.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Suvendu Adhikari and why is he significant?
Suvendu Adhikari is a senior BJP leader from West Bengal who was sworn in as the state's ninth Chief Minister on Saturday, 9 May. His elevation marks a significant political shift in West Bengal, a state long governed by the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC).
What did Suvendu Adhikari say in his first speech as Chief Minister?
Adhikari said his priority is to rebuild West Bengal's standing in education and culture, describing both sectors as having suffered serious decline. He added that he had no time to criticise others and would refrain from making controversial statements.
Why did Adhikari visit Jorasanko on his oath-taking day?
Adhikari visited Jorasanko — the ancestral home of Rabindranath Tagore in Kolkata — to pay homage to Tagore on the occasion of his birth anniversary as per the Bengali calendar, which coincided with his swearing-in day. He said he sought Tagore's blessings before assuming office.
What Tagore quote did CM Adhikari cite as his inspiration?
Chief Minister Adhikari cited the lines: 'Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high. Where knowledge is free. Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls.' He described these lines as a constant source of personal inspiration.
What are CM Adhikari's stated priorities for West Bengal?
Adhikari has identified the revival of education and culture as his primary concerns, saying the responsibilities are 'mammoth.' He expressed confidence that West Bengal will now move towards progress, development, and fulfilment.
