BJP workers and supporters chanted 'Jai Shri Ram' slogans outside former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's residence on Harish Chatterjee Street in the Kalighat area of Kolkata on Saturday, 9 May, as they made their way to the swearing-in ceremony of newly elected Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at Brigade Parade Grounds. The situation outside Banerjee's house remained peaceful, with no untoward incident reported.

Scene Outside Banerjee's Residence

The street wore a largely deserted look, with only a few policemen and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel stationed outside the former Chief Minister's home. Security cover at the residence had reportedly been reduced following the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government's defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections, allowing public access to Harish Chatterjee Street that was previously restricted.

A handful of BJP workers took out a small procession along the street en route to the swearing-in venue. As they passed Banerjee's residence, they raised 'Jai Shri Ram' slogans before moving on. Shortly thereafter, a group of Trinamool Congress supporters also gathered outside the house, raising 'Joy Bangla' slogans in a show of solidarity with the party's supremo.

Adhikari Sworn In as West Bengal's Ninth Chief Minister

Suvendu Adhikari was administered the oath of office as the ninth Chief Minister of West Bengal at Brigade Parade Grounds in a grand ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and a host of other dignitaries. Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states, the party's national president Nitin Nabin, newly elected BJP MLAs, and thousands of workers and supporters were also present at the event.

A Political Shift After 15 Years

The swearing-in marks the end of more than a decade-and-a-half of Trinamool Congress rule in West Bengal. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 207 seats in the 294-seat West Bengal Assembly, decisively ousting the TMC, which saw its tally collapse from 215 seats in the 2021 state elections to just 80 seats. This is the most significant political realignment the state has seen since the Left Front's long tenure ended in 2011.

Significance of the Moment

The scenes outside Banerjee's home underscored the symbolic weight of the political transition. Kalighat — long considered the nerve centre of TMC's political operations — witnessed rival slogans on the same street within minutes, reflecting the charged atmosphere across the state. Notably, the absence of any violent incident was widely seen as a positive signal amid fears of post-election tensions. How the new government manages law and order and political reconciliation in the weeks ahead will be closely watched.