West Bengal CM oath ceremony LIVE: Suvendu Adhikari sworn in; Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul also take oath

West Bengal’s political landscape shifted on May 9, 2026, as Suvendu Adhikari, a former Trinamool Congress leader, took oath as the state’s first BJP Chief Minister since independence. The swearing-in ceremony took place at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. Adhikari, previously a close aide of Mamata Banerjee, played a pivotal role in the BJP’s victory, winning key constituencies like Nandigram and Bhabanipur in the 2026 Assembly elections. Adhikari was joined by senior BJP leaders Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Nisith Pramanik, Kshudiram Tudu, and Ashok Kirtania, who were also sworn in as ministers. The ceremony included a tribute to Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore on his birth anniversary, marking a cultural moment amid the political transition. The BJP’s rise in West Bengal marks a historic shift, ending decades of Trinamool Congress rule. Adhikari’s appointment was formalized after the party named him as its legislative leader, paving the way for his oath as Chief Minister. Meanwhile, in neighboring Tamil Nadu, actor-politician Vijay’s TVK continues to struggle to form a government despite winning a significant number of seats. The party currently has the backing of 116 MLAs, two short of the halfway mark required to secure a majority. Efforts to gain support from parties like AMMK and IUML have failed, leaving Vijay in a tight spot as he seeks to finalize alliances. The uncertainty in Tamil Nadu contrasts with the BJP’s decisive victory in West Bengal, highlighting divergent political trajectories in the region.