‘Sonar Bangla Era Begins’: CM-Elect Suvendu Adhikari Ahead of Historic Bengal Oath Ceremony

Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday described his swearing-in as West Bengal Chief Minister as the beginning of a “new era” for the state, asserting that the long-promised vision of “Sonar Bangla” had officially commenced.

Ahead of the oath-taking ceremony in Kolkata, Adhikari said Bengal was witnessing a historic political transition with the formation of its first BJP government since Independence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the ceremony along with several senior BJP leaders and chief ministers from NDA-ruled states.

In a post on X, Adhikari said the state was entering a “Double Engine” phase of governance aligned with the Centre. “Today marks the end of decades of misrule and the beginning of a ‘Double Engine’ era of development, peace, and prosperity. The era of ‘Sonar Bangla’ officially begins. Welcome, Pradhan Mantri Ji,” he wrote.

The BJP registered a landmark victory in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, winning 207 seats and comfortably crossing the majority mark in the 294-member Assembly. The result ended the Trinamool Congress’s 15-year rule in the state under Mamata Banerjee, whose party was reduced to 80 seats.

The BJP leadership has projected the mandate as both a political and ideological breakthrough in a state that had long remained electorally challenging for the party. 

Senior leaders have repeatedly framed the victory as the beginning of a new governance model centred on development, industrial growth and stronger coordination with the Union government.

Adhikari, one of the BJP’s principal faces in Bengal over the past several years, was unanimously elected leader of the BJP Legislative Party earlier this week, clearing the way for his appointment as chief minister.

The swearing-in ceremony has begun in Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground where the BJP formally assumes power in West Bengal for the first time