India
oi-Prakash KL
BJP legislature party leader Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the chief minister of West Bengal on Saturday, heading the first BJP government in the state.
Governor RN Ravi administered the oath of office and secrecy to Adhikari at a grand ceremony held at the Brigade Parade Grounds here in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers, chief ministers of NDA-ruled states and senior BJP leaders.
Suvendu Adhikari sworn in as West Bengal CM on Saturday, leading the first BJP government after winning 207 seats and ending the Trinamool Congress’ 15-year rule. Adhikari becomes the state’s ninth Chief Minister and first from a district background in 55 years.
The BJP secured 207 seats in the 294-member Assembly, ending the Trinamool Congress’ 15-year rule in the state.
With the oath-taking, Adhikari has become Bengal’s ninth chief minister and the first leader in 55 years from a district background, rather than Kolkata, to head the state administration.
The last chief minister from Bengal’s rural belt was Ajoy Mukherjee, who assumed office in 1971 during his third tenure representing the Indian National Congress (Requisitionists), a faction that emerged after the Congress split in 1969. Like Adhikari, Mukherjee hailed from the undivided Medinipur region, underlining the political significance of Bengal’s districts in the state’s changing power dynamics.
Likely Faces In The New Bengal Cabinet
Even before the formal swearing-in, speculation has intensified over the composition of the new cabinet. According to reports, several prominent BJP leaders are being considered for key ministerial roles.
Among the frontrunners are Agnimitra Paul, Dilip Ghosh, Rupa Ganguly and Rudranil Ghosh. Senior leader Tapas Roy is also being discussed either for a ministerial berth or the Speaker’s post.
Other names reportedly under consideration include Sharadwat Mukherjee, Swapan Dasgupta, Nisith Pramanik and Shankar Ghosh. Former cricketer Ashok Dinda is reportedly being considered for the Sports and Youth Welfare portfolio.
Former IPS officer Rajesh Kumar is also said to be in contention owing to his administrative experience, while businessman Piyush Kanoria is being discussed for a possible role in the health department. BJP leaders Saurabh Sikdar, Jagannath Sarkar, Tarunjyoti Tiwari, Jitendra Tiwari, Indranil Khan, Shantanu Thakur, Ashok Lahiri and Manoj Tigga are also believed to be among the possible cabinet picks.
| Name | Likely Role / Department |
|---|---|
| Agnimitra Paul | Likely Cabinet Minister |
| Dilip Ghosh | Likely Senior Cabinet Role |
| Rupa Ganguly | Likely Ministerial Berth |
| Rudranil Ghosh | Likely Ministerial Berth |
| Tapas Roy | Minister / Speaker Contender |
| Sharadwat Mukherjee | Likely Minister |
| Swapan Dasgupta | Likely Minister |
| Nisith Pramanik | Likely Cabinet Berth |
| Shankar Ghosh | Likely Minister |
| Ashok Dinda | Sports and Youth Welfare |
| Rajesh Kumar | Administrative / Governance Role |
| Piyush Kanoria | Health Department (likely) |
| Saurabh Sikdar | Likely Minister |
| Jagannath Sarkar | Likely Cabinet Berth |
| Tarunjyoti Tiwari | Likely Minister |
| Jitendra Tiwari | Likely Minister |
| Indranil Khan | Likely Minister |
| Shantanu Thakur | Likely Senior Cabinet Role |
| Ashok Lahiri | Likely Economic / Finance Role |
| Manoj Tigga | Likely Minister |
