Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 9 May sought the blessings of Makhanlal Sarkar, one of the most senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers in West Bengal, at the swearing-in ceremony of Suvendu Adhikari as the state's ninth Chief Minister at Brigade Parade Grounds, Kolkata. The gesture drew widespread attention, spotlighting a 98-year-old grassroots nationalist figure whose decades of organisational work predates the BJP's formal founding.

Arrival and Open-Jeep Procession

Prime Minister Modi arrived in Kolkata to attend the swearing-in and, after reaching Brigade Parade Grounds, joined Chief Minister-designate Suvendu Adhikari and BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya on an open jeep, waving to thousands of BJP workers and supporters gathered at the venue. The sprawling grounds were decked in saffron colours, with artists performing to the beat of traditional drums, creating a festive atmosphere ahead of the oath-taking.

The Moment With Makhanlal Sarkar

After the procession, Modi proceeded to the stage and met dignitaries including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Ministers, Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states, and other senior leaders. He then personally greeted Makhanlal Sarkar, presented him with a shawl, and took his blessings — a moment that stood out as one of the most visually striking of the ceremony.

Who Is Makhanlal Sarkar

At 98, Sarkar remains one of the earliest grassroots figures associated with the nationalist movement in post-Independence India. In 1952, he was arrested in Kashmir while accompanying Syama Prasad Mookerjee during the movement to hoist the Indian Tricolour there. After the formation of the BJP in 1980, he became the organisational coordinator for West Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri, and Darjeeling districts, helping enrol nearly 10,000 members within a single year. From 1981 onward, he served continuously for seven years as district president — an exceptional tenure at a time when BJP leaders typically could not hold the same organisational position for more than two years.

How Adhikari's Swearing-In Came About

On the preceding Friday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced Suvendu Adhikari's name as BJP's Legislative Party leader at the party's parliamentary party meeting. Adhikari subsequently visited Lok Bhavan to propose the formation of the new government before Governor RN Ravi, following constitutional convention. The swearing-in marks a historic shift in West Bengal, where the BJP has secured power after years of opposition to the ruling Trinamool Congress.

All eyes will now be on the composition of Adhikari's cabinet and the governance priorities his administration sets in the days ahead.