West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari oath ceremony LIVE updates: Mamata urges anti-BJP parties, including Left, to ‘come together & fight’ in state

Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang on Saturday conveyed his best wishes to Suvendu Adhikari, who was sworn in as the CM of the first BJP government in West Bengal.

Describing the oath-taking ceremony of Adhikari as the new chief minister of West Bengal as a "historic milestone", Tamang expressed hope that the new administration would usher in an era of development, transparent governance and inclusive progress for the people of Bengal, an official statement said. — PTI

TMC spokesperson Riju Dutta suspended from party for six years days after viral video following BJP victory.

Former Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale took to X and said, "The new govt of Bengal is an illegitimate govt. It was not elected but rather “selected” by Modi-Tadipar who rigged the elections using their poodle Gyanesh Kumar & the ECI. This is a govt that doesn’t enjoy the people’s mandate. Narratives spun by Noida media & BJP don’t reflect the will of the people. There’s only 2 possibilities now: we either accept that India has ceased to be a democracy where free & fair elections are impossible. Or we reclaim our democracy from compromised institutions & assert that nothing is greater than the will of the people. The litmus test is 2029. Either we lose our democracy or we win back our country. "

Himangshu Maji, a retired teacher from Contai in Purba Medinipur district, fondly remembered West Bengal's new Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari as a hardworking student and said he felt proud to see him lead the state's first BJP government.

Maji said Adhikari was a commerce student at the Contai Prabhat Kumar College and had served as the cultural secretary of the students' union.

"Besides attending classes, Suvendu took private tuition from me. He was always very hardworking," the proud teacher said, adding that the teacher-student relationship between them stayed intact even when Adhikari entered full-fledged politics and rose in stature.

"During the municipal election campaign, he came to our neighbourhood and visited my house as well. The moment he entered, he touched my feet and sought to know about my well-being," Maji recalled.

About the Adhikari family, the teacher said he shared a warm relationship with the chief minister's father, Sisir Adhikari, who was then the chairman of the Contai municipality. — PTI

TMC MP Saayoni Ghosh took to X hours after Suvendu Adhikari took oath and said, "As the new Chief Minister of Bengal takes oath, I expect that he upholds the oath itself. He & his government must serve every individual of Bengal across all casts, religion & language who voted for him and those who didn’t. He has to walk the talk about Bengals holistic growth & prosperity. Every future is built on the bricks of the past. And pretence wont last & masks will fall off if the heart isn’t in the right place. Bengal will be watching very closely! Joy Bangla Jai Hind!"

On Suvendu Adhikari swearing in as the Chief Minister of the state, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury says, "The government has changed and the new CM has assumed charge. We want Bengal to develop and prosper under the BJP rule. We hope this government focuses on everyone, rising above religion and caste... We hope peace and harmony prevails. We will continue to pressurize the government into fulfilling the promises it made to the people..."

Industry leaders on Saturday congratulated Suvendu Adhikari on being sworn in as West Bengal chief minister, with many expressing hope for a new chapter of growth in the state.

RPG Group chairman Sanjiv Goenka, who called it "a historic moment for West Bengal", said the state has "great expectations" from Adhikari.

Goenka, who described himself as emotionally connected to West Bengal, said he looked forward to contributing to the state "in every way I can." ITC chairman and managing director Sanjiv Puri also congratulated Adhikari and extended greetings to the newly formed council of ministers.

Puri expressed confidence that the state would witness a "new dawn of growth and prosperity" under the new leadership and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' would serve as a guiding inspiration for the state's progress. — PTI

Outgoing Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma congratulated Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday on being sworn in as the first BJP CM of West Bengal, and said that 'Anga, Banga, Kalinga and Pragjyotish' are now governed by a party that is "deeply rooted in preserving Sanatani values".

Anga, Banga, Kalinga and Pragjyotish refer to the historical eastern Indian geographical arc comprising modern-day Bihar, Bengal, Odisha and Assam.

All these states are now ruled by the BJP. Sarma maintained that the Suvendu Adhikari government will work to reclaim the true essence of "Shonar Bangla" (golden Bengal). — PTI

Bangladesh Awami League congratulates Suvendu Adhikari on assuming office as Chief Minister of West Bengal.

The elevation of Suvendu Adhikari to the Chief Minister’s post in the BJP’s first government in West Bengal marks the continuation of a remarkable trend — the party’s willingness to reward those who crossed over to it from other parties, especially in states where it has risen to power recently.

While the BJP generally chooses the CM from among its seasoned leaders or workers in its core states, the party has also been open to expanding and reinforcing its organisation in traditionally weak states by inducting leaders from other parties.

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