Suvendu Adhikari’s Bengal Cabinet: West Bengal entered a new political era on Saturday as Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the state’s first chief minister from the Bharatiya Janata Party. Governor R. N. Ravi administered the oath of office at the grand ceremony held in Kolkata.
West Bengal CM Oath Taking Ceremony: Five BJP Ministers
Alongside Adhikari, five BJP leaders were sworn in as ministers in the new Bengal cabinet:
- Dilip Ghosh
- Agnimitra Paul
- Ashok Kirtaniya
- Nisith Pramanik
- Khudiram Tudu
Who Are They?
Among the prominent BJP faces in West Bengal, Dilip Ghosh is regarded as a veteran leader with strong RSS ties who played a crucial role in expanding the party’s grassroots network in the state following the BJP’s rise to power at the Centre in 2014. Agnimitra Paul, who began her career as a fashion designer, entered politics by joining the BJP in 2019 and quickly climbed the ranks to head the party’s Mahila Morcha in the state within a year. Nisith Pramanik, the MP from Cooch Behar in the 17th Lok Sabha, has also served as Union Minister of State handling portfolios including Home Affairs and Youth Affairs and Sports. Ashok Kirtania represents the Bangaon Uttar (SC) seat in North 24 Parganas, while Kshudiram Tudu is the elected MLA from the Ranibadh constituency.ALSO READ | From PM Modi To 20 NDA CMs: Full Guest List Of Suvendu Adhikari’s Oath-Taking Ceremony
The swearing-in ceremony marked a historic shift in Bengal politics, with the BJP forming its first-ever government in the state after defeating the All India Trinamool Congress in the Assembly elections.
Suvendu Oath Taking
The Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata saw a huge gathering as top BJP leaders and chief ministers from NDA-ruled states assembled for the swearing-in ceremony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, and several other senior leaders and dignitaries.
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The BJP projected the event as a significant political milestone, describing it as the start of a new political era in West Bengal following decades of rule by regional parties.