Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in on Saturday as the first chief minister from the Bharatiya Janata Party to lead West Bengal, marking a significant political change in a state long shaped by regional parties.

The oath-taking ceremony took place at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata, five days after the BJP secured a decisive mandate in the state assembly elections. The party won 207 seats, ending 15 years of rule by the All India Trinamool Congress under Mamata Banerjee.

The ceremony drew several senior leaders from the BJP and the Union government. Among those present were Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, chief ministers from BJP-ruled states, Union ministers and senior party figures.

Adhikari, who was elected leader of the BJP legislature party earlier this week, took office at a moment that many within the party described as politically significant for eastern India. His rise to the chief minister’s post follows the BJP’s strongest electoral performance in the state to date.

In brief remarks after taking oath, Adhikari said the new administration would function through “collective leadership” and place emphasis on corruption-free governance, justice and public service. He did not elaborate further on immediate policy measures during the ceremony.

The atmosphere at Brigade Parade Ground reflected the scale of the political transition, with party workers and supporters gathering in large numbers as senior BJP leaders shared the stage with the new chief minister and members of the incoming administration.

The BJP’s victory has brought an end to a decade-and-a-half of Trinamool Congress rule in the state, reshaping the political landscape of West Bengal after one of the most closely watched assembly elections in recent years.

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For the BJP leadership, Saturday’s swearing-in marked both a symbolic and organisational milestone, while for West Bengal, it opened a new phase in state politics under its first BJP-led government.