BJP's Suvendu Adhikari Takes Oath As West Bengal CM | Check Bengal Cabinet Ministers List

Suvendu Adhikari on 9 May took oath as West Bengal's first BJP Chief Minister, ending Mamata Banerjee's continuous run in the post since 2011. The change followed the recent Assembly elections, where Adhikari secured key victories against Banerjee.

Governor R. N. Ravi administered the oath of office to Adhikari at Raj Bhavan. Five BJP MLAs also joined the Council of Ministers: Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Ashok Kirtania, Kshudiram Tudu, and Nisith Pramanik.

Suvendu Adhikari West Bengal BJP CM oath and ministerial team

The swearing-in took place on the birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, according to the Bengali calendar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, several Union Cabinet ministers, chief ministers from BJP-ruled states, and senior NDA leaders attended the ceremony, highlighting the political importance of the event.

Adhikari, aged 57, contested from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur in the Assembly polls. Adhikari defeated Banerjee in Bhabanipur by 15,115 votes, dealing a rare electoral blow in a constituency long viewed as Banerjee's stronghold. Another report cited a margin of 15,105 votes for the same seat.

Suvendu Adhikari West Bengal BJP CM oath and political journey
The BJP leader is now the ninth person to become Chief Minister of West Bengal. Adhikari was once a trusted organiser for Banerjee and played a major role in the Trinamool Congress-led Nandigram movement, which is widely seen as central to ending 24 years of Left Front rule.

Relations between Adhikari and Banerjee started worsening around 2019. Adhikari left the Trinamool Congress in 2021 and later headed the BJP campaign targeting the Banerjee government. After taking oath, Adhikari said the new government would work through "collective leadership", rather than concentrating power in one office.

Adhikari's early days in office come amid reports of post-poll violence across West Bengal since the results were declared on 4 May. On 6 May, Adhikari's personal assistant was shot dead by unidentified attackers in Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district, adding to political tension in the state.

Leader Role
Suvendu Adhikari Chief Minister of West Bengal
Dilip Ghosh Council of Ministers member
Agnimitra Paul Council of Ministers member
Ashok Kirtania Council of Ministers member
Kshudiram Tudu Council of Ministers member
Nisith Pramanik Council of Ministers member
Even after leaving office, Banerjee's Facebook and X profiles still described Banerjee as "Founder Chairperson All India Trinamool Congress. Honourable Chief Minister, West Bengal". The political shift in West Bengal now places Adhikari at the centre of state governance while facing electoral expectations and law-and-order concerns.