www.thestatesman.com | FOLLOW US: India’s National Newspaper since 1818 @TheStatesmanLtd | Pages 16 | @thestatesmanltd ` 5.00 People’s Parliament, Always in Session thestatesman1875 | KOLKATA LC | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI Suvendu Adhikari Dilip Ghosh Agnimitra Paul Ashok Kirtania Kshudiram Tudu Minister, WB Minister, WB Minister, WB Minister, WB Minister, WB From Congress activist to TMC strongman and BJP’s Bengal face, he led Nandigram protests, defeated Mamata Banerjee in 2021, and became CM after BJP’s historic victory. Veteran BJP organiser and former state president, began as an RSS pracharak, expanded BJP’s Bengal grassroots after 2014, and is known for aggressive Hindutva politics and organisational control. Fashion designer-turnedpolitician, joined BJP in 2019 after a successful fashion career, served as Bengal BJP Mahila Morcha president, and has represented Asansol Dakshin as MLA since 2021. BJP MLA from Bangaon Uttar in North 24-Parganas, hails from Bengal’s Matua belt, has roots in business and local politics, and represents the influential Matua voter base. Tribal BJP leader from Bankura district, represents the tribaldominated Ranibandh constituency in Junglemahal, and has been projected by BJP to strengthen its tribal outreach in western Bengal. 10 May 2026 Nishit Pramanik Chief Minister, West Bengal | One of BJP’s strongest young leaders from North Bengal, former Union Minister, joined BJP from TMC in 2019, and commands significant Rajbanshi, youth, and organisational influence in the region. Suvendu Adhikari sworn in as Bengal CM RAJIB CHAKRABORTY Kolkata, 9 May I n a historic political shift in West Bengal, senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday took oath as the state’s first Bharatiya Janata Party Chief Minister at a grand ceremony held at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata, attended by the top leadership of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the swearing-in ceremony along with Union home minister Amit Shah, defence minister Rajnath Singh, BJP national president J. P. Nadda and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Several chief ministers of BJP-ruled states and NDA allies also attended the event, underlining the political significance of the BJP’s victory in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. Among those present were Yogi Aditynath, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Manik Saha, Rekha Gupta, Pushkar Singh Dhami, Devendra Fadnavis, Mohan Charan Majhi and Samrat Choudhary. The ceremony marked a watershed moment in Bengal politics as, for the first time since 1977, the same political formation assumed power both at the Centre and in the state. Political obser vers described the presence of a large number of Union ministers and chief ministers in Kolkata as unprecedented in recent decades. Mr Adhikari, who won from both Nandigram and Bhowanipore Assembly constituencies, later announced a five-member Cabinet representing different regions and social groups of the state. The Cabinet includes former state BJP president Dilip Ghosh, MLA Agnimitra Paul, Matua leader Ashok Kirtania, tribal face Khudiram Tudu and BJP leader Nisith Pramanik. After Mr Adhikari took oath, Dilip Ghosh was sworn in, followed by Agnimitra Paul, Ashok Kirtania, Khudiram Tudu and Nisith Pramanik. The composition of the ministry reflects the BJP’s attempt to maintain a regional and social balance in the new government. While Kirtania is regarded as a prominent Matua representative from south Bengal, Khudiram Tudu is considered an important tribal face from the Junglemahal region. Two ministers have been inducted from north Bengal and three from south Bengal. The swearing-in ceremony turned Brigade Parade Ground into a virtual congregation of NDA leaders from across the country. Apart from BJP leaders, allies of the ruling coalition at the Centre also attended the programme. Senior BJP leaders described the development as the beginning of a “new political chapter” in Bengal. Party workers celebrated across several districts after Mr Adhikari was unanimously elected leader of the BJP Legislature Party on Friday. The BJP’s ascent to power in Bengal is being viewed as one of the party’s most significant electoral breakthroughs in eastern India. (Photo credit: Biswajit Ghoshal and agencies) • Carefully crafted balance: Page 3 • EDITORIAL - Bengal Shift: Page 8
The Statesman is one of India's oldest English newspapers. It was founded in Kolkata in 1875 and is directly descended from The Friend of India (founded 1818). The Englishman (founded 1821) was merged with The Statesman in 1934. The Delhi edition of The Statesman began publication in 1931. The Statesman Weekly is a compendium of news and views from the Kolkata and Delhi editions. Printed on airmail paper, it is popular with readers outside India. The Statesman (average weekday circulation approximately 180,000) is a leading English newspaper in West Bengal. The Sunday Statesman has a circulation of 230,000.
