Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as West Bengal's first-ever Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Minister on 9 May, in a ceremony held in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The swearing-in marks a historic political shift in a state long dominated by the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Majumdar's 'Sonar Bangla' Pledge

Speaking after the ceremony, Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar expressed confidence that West Bengal would now be transformed under the new dispensation. Majumdar pointed to what he described as a double-engine government — one led by Prime Minister Modi at the Centre and by Chief Minister Adhikari in the state — as the engine of the promised transformation. "A double-engine government, one led by Prime Minister Modi and here by Suvendu Adhikari, will work to take Bengal towards development," he said. He added: "We will transform the state into 'Sonar Bangla'."

Adhikari's First Act: A Visit to Tagore's Ancestral Home

In a symbolically charged first move after taking oath, CM Adhikari visited Jorasanko Thakurbari — the ancestral home of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore — and paid floral tributes on the poet's birth anniversary. Addressing reporters, Adhikari said: "Today is a very important day for the country and for West Bengal, so it was the wish of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the new government shall begin its tenure on Rabindra Jayanti." He added: "That is why today all of us, under the Prime Minister's leadership and with the blessings of Rabindranath Tagore, have taken oath to abide by the Constitution." The choice of Rabindra Jayanti as the date of the oath-taking underscores the new government's intent to anchor its politics in Bengali cultural identity.

Adhikari on TMC Rule and Bengal's Future

Addressing the long-standing charge that BJP leaders are outsiders in Bengal, CM Adhikari pushed back sharply. "The political party which was formed on the ideology and principles of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, does not need anyone's certificate," he said. Adhikari alleged that West Bengal's education, culture, and overall development had suffered during TMC's reign, and pledged comprehensive reform. "The state's education, culture, everything has taken a hit. We will reform Bengal and have a huge responsibility towards it," he said, adding: "We shall overcome (all difficulties)." Taking a dig at the opposition, he remarked: "Those who are still engaging in criticism, may God bless them with wisdom."

Other Leaders Weigh In

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav highlighted the significance of a BJP government in West Bengal, saying it would work against illegal infiltrators and towards development. His remarks signal that border security and immigration are expected to be early policy priorities for the Adhikari administration, given the state's proximity to Bangladesh.

What Comes Next

The BJP now faces the formidable task of governing a state where the TMC built a deeply entrenched organisational network over more than a decade. The new government's ability to deliver on its 'Sonar Bangla' promise — rooted in Tagore's vision of a prosperous, culturally vibrant Bengal — will be tested against the realities of administrative transition, law and order, and economic development. All eyes are now on cabinet formation and the government's first policy moves.