Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari holds first admin meet after oath
Synopsis
Within hours of being sworn in as West Bengal's Chief Minister — ending 15 years of TMC rule — Suvendu Adhikari convened a law-and-order review with the state's top police and administrative brass. The speed of the move signals that governance and security will be the new government's opening message.
Key Takeaways
Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as West Bengal Chief Minister on 9 May at Brigade Parade Grounds , with Governor R.N.
Ravi administering the oath in the presence of PM Narendra Modi .
His first official meeting covered the state's administrative and law-and-order situation, attended by Chief Secretary Dushyant Nariala , Home Secretary Sanghamitra Ghosh , and DGP Siddh Nath Gupta .
A follow-up meeting at Nabanna secretariat is scheduled for Monday at 5 pm , with the first Cabinet meeting also likely on the same day.
The BJP won 207 of 294 Assembly seats; the TMC secured 80 — marking a change of government after 15 years .
Adhikari defeated Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur by more than 15,000 votes .
BJP MLA Tapas Roy is likely to take oath as Pro tem Speaker on Tuesday ; newly elected MLAs to be sworn in on Wednesday and Thursday .
West Bengal's newly sworn-in Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday, 9 May convened his first official meeting with the state's top administrative and police officials within hours of taking oath, signalling an immediate focus on law and order. The meeting was held at the Public Works Department (PWD) auditorium in central Kolkata's Esplanade area.
Who Attended the First Meeting
Senior officials present included Chief Secretary Dushyant Nariala, Home Secretary Sanghamitra Ghosh, and Director General of Police (DGP) Siddh Nath Gupta. During the meeting, Adhikari enquired about the overall administrative and law-and-order situation across the state — a pointed early priority for a government inheriting a politically charged transition.
Next Steps: Nabanna Meeting on Monday
Adhikari is also expected to hold a follow-up meeting with senior officials of the state administration and Kolkata Police at Nabanna, the state secretariat, at 5 pm on Monday. According to sources, the state DGP, Kolkata Police Commissioner, and senior officers from different police zones across the state are expected to attend. The first meeting of the new Cabinet is also likely to be held on Monday, with the remaining ministers scheduled to take oath at Lok Bhavan on the same day.
The Oath Ceremony
Earlier on Saturday, Governor R.N. Ravi administered the oath of office to Adhikari at the Brigade Parade Grounds in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several senior political leaders. Five other ministers were also sworn in alongside Adhikari: Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Ashok Kirtania, Nisith Pramanik, and Khudiram Tudu. After the ceremony, Adhikari briefly interacted with senior police and administrative officials present at the venue and updated his social media profiles to reflect the designation of 'Chief Minister'.
Assembly Transition and Election Results
The change in government in West Bengal comes after 15 years, following a decisive verdict in the state Assembly elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 207 seats out of 294, with polling conducted in 293 constituencies. The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) secured 80 seats. Notably, Adhikari defeated former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency by a margin of more than 15,000 votes.
What Comes Next
According to initial information, BJP MLA Tapas Roy is likely to take oath as the Pro tem Speaker on Tuesday, while newly elected MLAs are expected to take oath on Wednesday and Thursday. With Cabinet formation and legislative formalities set to unfold over the coming days, the new government's early administrative moves will be closely watched as a signal of its governance priorities.
Point of View
Marked by post-election violence in past cycles, is the new government's most urgent liability. The speed of the administrative outreach also suggests the BJP is aware that governing Bengal is harder than winning it. With 207 seats, the mandate is commanding, but the institutional machinery — police, bureaucracy, district administration — has been shaped by 15 years of TMC rule. How quickly Adhikari can reorient that apparatus, without triggering accusations of political vendetta, will define the credibility of his early tenure.
NationPress
10 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Suvendu Adhikari and how did he become West Bengal CM?
Suvendu Adhikari is a senior BJP leader who was sworn in as West Bengal Chief Minister on 9 May after the BJP won 207 of 294 Assembly seats. He notably defeated former CM Mamata Banerjee in the Bhabanipur constituency by more than 15,000 votes.
What was discussed in Suvendu Adhikari's first meeting as CM?
Adhikari held his first meeting at the PWD auditorium in Kolkata's Esplanade area with Chief Secretary Dushyant Nariala, Home Secretary Sanghamitra Ghosh, and DGP Siddh Nath Gupta. The discussion focused on the overall administrative and law-and-order situation in the state.
When is the first Cabinet meeting of the new West Bengal government?
The first Cabinet meeting of the new government is likely to be held on Monday, the same day the remaining ministers are scheduled to take oath at Lok Bhavan. A broader administrative meeting at Nabanna secretariat is also set for Monday at 5 pm.
How significant is this change of government in West Bengal?
This is the first change of government in West Bengal in 15 years, ending the TMC's rule under Mamata Banerjee. The BJP's 207-seat win out of 294 is a commanding majority in the state Assembly.
Who are the ministers sworn in alongside Suvendu Adhikari?
Five ministers were sworn in with Adhikari on Saturday: Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Ashok Kirtania, Nisith Pramanik, and Khudiram Tudu. The remaining ministers are scheduled to take oath at Lok Bhavan on Monday.
