Kolkata, 09 May (H.S.) : A sea of saffron swept through central Kolkata on Saturday as thousands of Bharatiya Janata Party supporters gathered at the iconic Brigade Parade Ground to witness the swearing-in ceremony of the first BJP government in West Bengal since Independence.

Major roads leading to the venue, including Red Road, were packed from early morning with supporters carrying saffron flags, wearing orange scarves and headgear, and chanting party slogans as senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the state’s new Chief Minister.

The ceremony coincided with Rabindra Jayanti, commemorating the birth anniversary of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. A large portrait of Tagore occupied a central place on the main stage, alongside portraits of Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.

The stage backdrop prominently featured Bengali cultural motifs, including depictions of Durga Puja celebrations, dhakis playing traditional drums, women blowing conch shells and temple imagery, lending a distinctly regional touch to the high-profile political event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the venue in an open vehicle amid loud chants of “Modi, Modi”, “Jai Shri Ram” and “Vishwaguru” from the packed crowd. Upon reaching the stage, Modi paid floral tributes before Tagore’s portrait and later felicitated veteran BJP worker Makhanlal Sarkar, who had worked alongside Syama Prasad Mookerjee and was arrested with him in Jammu and Kashmir.

Several senior BJP leaders, Union ministers and chief ministers from NDA-ruled states attended the ceremony. Among those present on the dais was Yogi Adityanath, while West Bengal Governor R. N. Ravi administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers.

Adhikari took oath in Bengali, triggering loud cheers from the gathering, with supporters waving party flags and chanting slogans in favour of the new government.

The first five ministers sworn into the cabinet were Dilip Ghosh, Ashok Kirtania, Nishith Pramanik, Agnimitra Paul and Khudiram Tudu.

The national anthem was played shortly before noon, with the massive crowd standing in unison as the formal proceedings concluded.

Actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty was also present at the event and interacted with senior party leaders on stage.

The ceremony grounds also reflected a festive atmosphere, with multiple stalls selling Bengali snacks such as jhalmuri, rosogolla and sandesh shaped like the BJP’s lotus symbol. Vendors reported brisk business throughout the programme.

Among the attendees was BJP supporter Sandeepa Mondal, who travelled from Sandeshkhali to attend the event.

“We had to be here. Hopefully this new government will ensure that no atrocities take place in the Sundarbans,” she said.

Sandeshkhali had earlier drawn national attention following allegations of land-grabbing and sexual harassment involving local women, leading to the arrest of Sheikh Shahjahan.

Following the ceremony, Chief Minister Adhikari posted on X that the swearing-in marked “the end of decades of misrule” and the beginning of a “double-engine era of development, peace and prosperity” in West Bengal.

Prime Minister Modi, in a separate post, remembered Syama Prasad Mookerjee and said the BJP government would work tirelessly to fulfil his vision for the state and the nation.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh