Patna: The Bharatiya Janata Party transformed Kolkata into the centre of national politics on Saturday as senior NDA leaders arrived in the city for the swearing-in ceremony of Suvendu Adhikari as the new chief minister of West Bengal. Among those travelling to attend the ceremony was Samrat Chaudhary, the chief minister of Bihar, who left for Kolkata earlier in the day. The oath-taking event at the historic Brigade Parade Ground is being seen as one of the BJP’s biggest political celebrations in eastern India in recent years.
The ceremony is expected to witness the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP national president Nitin Navin along with chief ministers and senior leaders from several NDA-ruled states. BJP supporters from different parts of Bengal began gathering near Brigade Parade Ground from early morning carrying party flags and banners. Tight security arrangements were made across the area, with police personnel and barricades placed around the venue to manage the large crowd expected for the event.
The BJP leadership is treating the swearing-in ceremony as more than just a formal transfer of power. Party leaders believe the event is an opportunity to show the growing strength of the NDA in eastern India. After celebrating a major political moment in Bihar earlier this week, the party now wants to send a similar message from Bengal. Leaders have compared the atmosphere in Kolkata to the recent gathering at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, where a large cabinet expansion ceremony was held in the presence of top BJP leaders. That event was widely described by party workers as a show of unity and organisational power.
On Thursday, 32 ministers took oath during the Bihar cabinet expansion ceremony attended by Modi, Shah and other senior NDA leaders. The event at Gandhi Maidan attracted huge crowds and became a major political talking point across the state. BJP leaders now hope the Kolkata ceremony will create a similar impact in Bengal and strengthen the party’s image among voters ahead of future political battles. The presence of leaders from nearly 20 states has further added to the importance of the event.
Before leaving for the venue, Suvendu Adhikari greeted supporters gathered outside his residence. Wearing a saffron kurta, he waved at party workers and later travelled in a convoy towards Brigade Parade Ground. Supporters lined the roads to welcome him, raising slogans and celebrating what many BJP workers described as a historic day for Bengal politics. Security agencies remained on high alert throughout the city due to the arrival of several high-profile political leaders.
Political observers believe the BJP is trying to use the grand ceremony to project confidence and unity at the national level. By organising a large public event with the participation of senior leaders from across the country, the party hopes to strengthen its position in Bengal and present itself as a growing force in the region. The ceremony at Brigade Parade Ground is therefore being viewed not only as a swearing-in event but also as a major political statement by the BJP and the NDA alliance.
