Bengal turns saffron: Inside the grand coronation of BJP’s first government

West Bengal saw a major political shift as BJP formed its first government in the state, ending the Trinamool Congress’ 15-year rule. After winning 207 seats in the 2026 Assembly elections, BJP’s victory marked a new chapter in Bengal politics, bringing Suvendu Adhikari to power and reviving the slogan of ‘Poriborton’ once again.

Suvendu Adhikari took oath as West Bengal’s first BJP Chief Minister at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground after leading the party to a huge win.

BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul took oath as a cabinet minister as West Bengal’s first BJP government officially began. Seen as a strong party voice over the past few years, Paul said "In the next five years, we must deliver what West Bengal did not receive in the last 50 years."

​BJP leader Nisith Pramanik took oath as a cabinet minister during the grand swearing-in ceremony in Kolkata. His entry into the new cabinet reflected the BJP’s strong statewide presence after its sweeping election win and the start of a new political phase in West Bengal.​

BJP MLA Kshudiram Tudu was sworn in as a cabinet minister on Saturday. The assembly elections 2026 witnessed a record voter turnout, reflecting strong public participation across phases. Phase I recorded 93.19% polling, while Phase II saw 91.66%, taking the overall turnout to an impressive 92.47%, highest since Independence.

Senior BJP leader Dilip Ghosh took oath as a cabinet minister, marking a major milestone for one of the party’s key Bengal faces. Long known for building the BJP’s presence in the state, Ghosh became part of the government after years of helping expand the party’s support base.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Kolkata for the swearing-in ceremony, where he was welcomed by massive crowds during a roadshow ahead of the event. During the programme, he felicitated and took blessings from senior BJP worker Makhanlal Sarkar.

The ceremony was attended by Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, JP Nadda and Dharmendra Pradhan, along with Chief Ministers Nayab Singh Saini (Haryana), Samrat Choudhary (Bihar), Pushkar Singh Dhami (Uttarakhand), Rekha Gupta (Delhi) and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya.

BJP supporters dressed as Lord Ram and Goddess Sita gathered outside Brigade Parade Ground ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, adding colour and energy to the celebrations. The scenes captured the excitement among party workers as Bengal prepared for its first BJP Chief Minister.

Large crowds gathered at Brigade Parade Ground to witness Suvendu Adhikari take oath as Chief Minister, celebrating the BJP’s historic win. Folk artists, party workers and supporters came together as Bengal entered a new political era after decades of change in power.