Samik Bhattacharya confirms date; ceremony to coincide with Rabindra Jayanti, adding cultural weight to BJP’s historic victory
West Bengal: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to form the government in West Bengal, with the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for May 9, a date that coincides with the birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. The announcement was confirmed by state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya following the party’s sweeping electoral win, which brought an end to the 15-year rule of the All India Trinamool Congress.
Bhattacharya stated, “The oath-taking ceremony of the new Chief Minister of West Bengal will take place on May 9,” signalling the party’s readiness to assume office. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had hinted at the timeline during his final campaign rally in Barrackpore, noting that he would return to the state after results to attend the swearing-in.
Moreover, after the victory, Modi invoked Tagore’s vision while addressing party workers in New Delhi, emphasising the goal of building a Bengal “where the mind is without fear and the head is held high.”
Meanwhile, officials from the Election Commission of India are expected to complete post-election formalities before Governor R N Ravi initiates the constitutional process of government formation.
Significantly, the ceremony falls on Rabindra Jayanti, or “Pochishe Boishakh,” a day deeply rooted in Bengal’s cultural identity. Consequently, the BJP’s rise is being seen as a turning point, ending decades of dominance first by the Left Front and later the Trinamool Congress.
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