- Suvendu Adhikari sworn in as West Bengal CM
- BJP forms first government in West Bengal
- Narendra Modi and Amit Shah attended ceremony
- TMC lost power after 15 years in the state
- Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani named next CDS
BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the new chief minister of West Bengal on Saturday. The swearing-in ceremony was held in Kolkata. Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and several senior BJP leaders attended the event.
The victory marks a major political change in the state. The BJP defeated the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and formed its first government in West Bengal. The TMC, led by former chief minister Mamata Banerjee, had ruled the state for 15 years.
In the state assembly election, the BJP won 207 seats in the 294-member assembly. The TMC won 80 seats. After the election defeat, Mamata Banerjee questioned the results and alleged irregularities during the voting process. She initially refused to resign from the post of chief minister. Later, Governor RN Ravi dissolved the state assembly on Thursday.
Suvendu Adhikari is an important BJP leader in West Bengal. He was earlier a minister in Mamata Banerjee’s government before joining the BJP. His father also served as a Union minister during the government of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Meanwhile, the central government announced a new military appointment. Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani was named the next Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) of India. He will take charge after General Anil Chauhan completes his term on May 30, 2026. The CDS is the highest military position in the country and helps coordinate the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
In another incident, an Indian sailor died after a wooden cargo dhow caught fire near the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel was traveling from Dubai to Yemen with 18 Indian crew members. Seventeen crew members were rescued and taken safely to Dubai. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire.
