West Bengal CM announcement highlights: Suvendu to take oath as CM on Saturday

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Suvendu Adhikari will become next CM of Bengal tomorrow. The oath taking ceremony is confirmed to be held at Brigade Parade Ground on May 9 and likely at 11 am. PM Modi will be in attendance and so will be CMs of all BJP-ruled states.

Suvendu was once an all-weather man of Mamata Banerjee, the outgoing CM of Bengal. Today, he has not just beaten her twice in back-to-back elections but is set to replace her as the chief minister.

Read more on him here

After Suvendu reached Raj Bhavan and met Governor RN Ravi to stake a claim to form the new government, he invited the next Bengal CM to take the oath as chief minister at Brigade Parade Ground on May 9.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, chief ministers of NDA-ruled states are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony that the party hopes will underline Bengal's political transition.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya on Friday claimed that the personal assistant of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari possessed critical information about "high-ranking figures".

Speaking to ANI, he emphasised that there is no fundamental difference between the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC).

"There has been no fundamental difference between the TMC and the BJP. Simply changing the colour of one's shirt or the bottle, the taste of wine does not vanish. Unfortunately, the victim likely had no direct involvement in politics. It is possible that the killers, or those who orchestrated the attack, knew this individual possessed information that, if disclosed during an investigation, could implicate high-ranking figures," he said. (ANI)

West Bengal CM announcement LIVE: West Bengal BJP Legislative Party leader Suvendu Adhikari on Friday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will fulfil all commitments made during the Assembly elections in the state, asserting that the party remains committed to both organisational goals and public welfare.

Speaking to reporters, Adhikari expressed gratitude to BJP national president Nitin Nabin and Union Home Minister Amit Shah after being elected as the Leader of the Legislative Party in West Bengal.

"I express gratitude to the national president, to Amit Shah. With the blessings of the Prime Minister, I have been elected as the Leader of the Legislative Party. I have received support from all MLAs. There is democracy in the BJP. We will fulfil the commitment of the BJP made during elections for the organisation and the public," he said.

BJP leader Agnimitra Paul says, "We are extremely happy that Suvendu Adhikari is our Chief Minister, who has been unanimously elected and nominated by 207 BJP MLAs. He is completely eligible because the way he has fought for the last five years inside the assembly and outside the assembly..."

Adhikari and his council of ministers are scheduled to be sworn in at a grand ceremony at the Brigade Parade Grounds on Saturday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, top Union ministers and some 20 chief ministers of BJP-ruled states.

CM-elect Suvendu Adhikari has reached Lok Bhavan to stake claim to form government in West Bengal, PTI is reporting.

West Bengal CM announcement LIVE: BJP MLA-elect Jitendra Tewari on Friday said the formation of the new government in West Bengal fulfils the long-standing vision of Syama Prasad Mukherjee, calling it a moment of happiness and asserting that whatever follows will be in the interest of Bengal.

Speaking to ANI, Tewari said, "This was the dream of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee... Now, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee's government is being formed, which is a matter of happiness for everyone... Whatever will happen will be good for Bengal." (ANI)

West Bengal CM announcement LIVE: Amit Shah, while addressing a gathering in Kolkata on Friday announced Bharatiya Janata Party leader Suvendu Adhikari as the Leader of the West Bengal BJP Legislative Party, referring to him as a key figure for the party's vision of achieving "Sonar Bangla" through governance and development in the state.

Shah said, "In a way, due to your faith, the central figure of today's celebrations and the future Chief Minister of Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari," as he began his address after the announcement.

He thanked the people of the state for their support and outlined the party's commitment to fulfilling their expectations. "First of all, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the people of Bengal with joined hands. The atmosphere that had been created since the Communist era was deepened by Mamata Banerjee, and it was almost impossible to cast your vote there... I am very thankful for the huge victory that the people of Bengal have given us by trusting the BJP and our leader, Narendra Modi," Shah said. (ANI)

West Bengal CM announcement LIVE: During 15 years of TMC rule in Bengal, Mamata Banerjee has politicised administration, criminalised politics, said Amit Shah in Kolkata.

West Bengal CM announcement LIVE: Amit Shah, after announcing the selection of Suvendu Adhikari as chief minister of West Bengal, said, “It is the responsibility of all of us BJP workers to pursue the goal of 'Sonar Bangla' and fulfil the expectations of the people of Bengal.”

"Today, the Kavi Guru's lines are ringing true: 'The path to a Bengal where the mind is free from fear and the head is held high with pride has been paved, and Bengal is walking that path'..." he said.

(via ANI)

West Bengal CM announcement LIVE: Suvendu Adhikari was on Friday elected as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislature party leader, which paved the way for him to take oath as chief minister of West Bengal.

The oath-taking ceremony for the newly elected BJP MLAs is scheduled for May 9 and will take place at the Brigade Parade Ground. Read full report here

West Bengal CM announcement LIVE: BJP legislature party meeting has begun in Kolkata to elect its assembly leader and chief minister, PTI news agency has reported, citing sources.

Amit Shah is chairing the meeting.

Home minister Amit Shah has left from hotel to attend BJP legislature party meeting at Biswa Bangla Convention Centre.

West Bengal CM announcement LIVE: As BJP legislature party heads to pick the West Bengal chief minister, party leader Agnimitra Paul said on Friday, “We all know that the dream of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee is finally going to be fulfilled today, and we want to thank the people of Bengal for this. The detailed discussions will happen later..."

Agnimitra Paul has emerged to be one of the frontrunners in the Bengal CM race.

(via PTI)

West Bengal CM announcement LIVE: Ousted former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina's party Awami League on Friday to those who emerged as winners in the recently concluded West Bengal elections, in which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won a majority.

“Greetings and congratulations to all those elected in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections in India from Sheikh Hasina, President of the Bangladesh Awami League and former Prime Minister of Bangladesh,” said Awami League in a post on X.

“In a formal message of felicitation issued today, Sheikh Hasina, President of the Bangladesh Awami League and former Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, extended her sincere congratulations and best wishes to all those who emerged victorious in the Legislative Assembly elections in the Indian state of West Bengal, including representatives of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP),” the post read.

In her message, Hasina conveyed special congratulations to Suvendu Adhikari. She further expressed her hope for the continued success of all elected representatives and wished for the sustained prosperity and well-being of the people of West Bengal, as well as of India as a whole.

West Bengal CM announcement LIVE: As BJP legislature party heads to pick West Bengal chief minister, MLA Kalyan Chakraborty said he believes serving as a minister without being a duly elected MLA is not appropriate for the Vidhan Sabha constituency.

“It is a historic victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party in West Bengal. We expected this by observing people’s psychology, their gestures, and their body language. I believe it would be better to first become an MLA and then perform ministerial duties. Serving as a minister without being a duly elected MLA is not appropriate for the Vidhan Sabha constituency. I think one should first become a true MLA,” Chakraborty said, speaking to PTI news agency.

West Bengal CM announcement LIVE: Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio landed in West Bengal's Kolkata on Friday. He will attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new BJP government to be held on May 9, Saturday.

West Bengal CM announcement LIVE: The Kolkata Police on Friday issued a traffic notification in connection with the visit of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the for attending the oath-taking ceremony of the newly formed West Bengal government at Brigade Parade Ground on May 9.

West Bengal CM announcement LIVE: On Governor dissolving West Bengal Assembly, Congress leader Husain Dalwai says, “…Governor has the right. As Mamata Banerjee was not resigning, there was a matter as to what to do. So, the Governor used his rights.”

West Bengal CM announcement LIVE: On government formation in West Bengal, Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Vardhan Shringla says, "It will be a historic day tomorrow. Change has come to Bengal; policies related to women security, development will be implemented from tomorrow."

West Bengal CM announcement LIVE: After Union minister Amit Shah's arrival in Kolkata, BJP MP Rahul Sinha took a swipe at the opposition and said those who claimed that Amit Shah or any Union Minister would not be able to visit the state after May 4 had been proven wrong.

"Those arrogant people who said that Amit Shah or any central minister would not be able to come here after the 4th, see today Amit Shah has come here. And those who said such things are sitting at home," Rahul Sinha said, ANI reported.

He further added, "The leader will be decided in the legislature party meeting, and everything will be clear by 6 pm."

West Bengal CM announcement LIVE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday offered prayers at the Dakshineswar Kali Temple in Kolkata, West Bengal.

Shah arrived in Kolkata earlier today as the Central Observer for the election of the legislative party leader in West Bengal.