Suvendu takes oath as West Bengal Chief Minister
BJP legislature party leader Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the chief minister of West Bengal on Saturday, heading the first BJP government in the state.
Governor RN Ravi administered the oath of office and secrecy to Adhikari at a grand ceremony held at the Brigade Parade Grounds here in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers, chief ministers of NDA-ruled states and senior BJP leaders.
The BJP secured 207 seats in the 294-member Assembly, ending the Trinamool Congress’ 15-year rule in the state.
It is the first time that a BJP government has come to power in Kolkata after almost 50 years of Left and TMC rule. But it hasn’t been without controversy: outgoing CM Mamata Banerjee, who ruled the state for 15 years, refused to resign despite defeat, alleging rigging and other irregularities.
The BJP won the West Bengal Assembly elections with a historic victory, securing 207 of the 264 seats. The high-stakes elections were held in two phases on April 23 and 29, while the votes were counted on May 4. As the results revealed a major setback for the TMC, Mamata alleged vote rigging and initially refused to resign. Her claim was backed by the INDIA bloc.
The Bengal Governor finally dissolved the Assembly on Thursday, which ultimately led to Mamata’s ouster from power.
Notably, Suvendu’s close aide, Chandranath Rath, was shot dead late on Wednesday night amid the intense post-poll political drama in Bengal.