West Bengal entered a new political era on Saturday as Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the state’s first BJP chief minister since Independence. Senior BJP leaders Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul and Ashok Kirtania are among those included in the new council of ministers.The swearing-in ceremony at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground was projected by the BJP as a landmark moment not only for the party, but also for Bengal’s political history. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, NDA chief ministers, industrialists and religious leaders attended the event as the saffron camp celebrated what it called the beginning of “Sonar Bangla”.Earlier, Suvendu Adhikari has been formally elected as the BJP legislature party leader in West Bengal. The BJP secured 207 seats in the 294-member Assembly, ending 15 years of Trinamool Congress rule under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.Adhikari’s elevation follows a unanimous decision in the legislature party meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who stated that all MLAs backed a single name. Shortly after his selection, Adhikari met the Governor and formally staked a claim to form the government. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior NDA leaders expected to attend.Adhikari’s political rise has been driven by his high-profile electoral wins against Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram and Bhabanipur, including a symbolic victory in her traditional stronghold. Once a key TMC strategist, he joined the BJP in 2020 and quickly emerged as its most prominent face in Bengal. His combination of organisational reach, insider knowledge of the TMC, and aggressive campaign style positioned him as the BJP’s natural choice for the top post.

Defeat has exposed in TMC a rot that runs deep. Plus, like Pawars & Yadavs, Banerjees will see intra-family strains testing political bonds. BJP will be relentless. Mamata’s first test, and a tough one, will be upcoming municipal & panchayat polls

Prime Minister Narendra Modi honored 98-year-old BJP veteran Makhanlal Sarkar at the party's first West Bengal government swearing-in. Sarkar, a key grassroots leader since the BJP's inception, was recognized for his decades of service and association with the nationalist movement. His arrest in Kashmir in 1952 while with Syama Prasad Mukherjee highlights his early commitment.

Rohit Sharma went viral after an awkward selfie moment with a female fan outside the Mumbai Indians bus. As the fan realised her phone had switched off, Rohit jokingly replied, “Toh abhi kya karu mai phir?” The clip sparked laughs online. Meanwhile, Harbhajan Singh praised Rohit’s recent impact and said his earlier return from injury could have changed Mumbai’s IPL season.