BengalPolitics – Suvendu Adhikari Takes Oath Amid Political Attention in Assembly
BengalPolitics – West Bengal witnessed a politically significant day on Wednesday as newly elected legislators gathered at the state Assembly for the swearing-in ceremony following the recent election results. Several members of the opposition Trinamool Congress were seen meeting Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari at his chamber inside the Assembly complex, drawing attention across political circles.
Opposition MLAs Meet Chief Minister During Ceremony
Among the Trinamool Congress legislators who met the Chief Minister were Niyamat Sheikh from Hariharpara, Akhruzzaman from Raghunathganj, and Imani Biswas from Suti. Their visit took place during the oath-taking proceedings inside the Assembly premises.
Although such meetings are generally viewed as part of legislative courtesy during the beginning of a new Assembly session, the interactions sparked discussion within political and administrative circles due to the current political climate in the state.
BJP Registers Strong Victory in Bengal Elections
The Bharatiya Janata Party secured a decisive mandate in the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections by winning 207 seats in the 294-member House. The Trinamool Congress, led by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, was reduced to 80 seats after suffering a major electoral setback.
Political observers noted that the BJP had fielded Hindu candidates across all constituencies during the election campaign. Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress currently has nearly two dozen Muslim legislators among its elected members.
The meeting between some opposition MLAs and the newly sworn-in Chief Minister led to speculation among sections of political observers, especially considering the changing political equations following the election outcome. However, leaders from different parties maintained that interactions between ruling and opposition legislators during such formal occasions are not unusual in parliamentary traditions.
Suvendu Adhikari Receives Formal Welcome
Suvendu Adhikari arrived at the Assembly complex at around 11 am and began the day by paying tribute to Dr. B R Ambedkar. He was accorded a ceremonial guard of honour at the venue.
Earlier this week, similar honours were extended to him at Nabanna, the state secretariat, during his first official visit there after assuming office as Chief Minister.
Before entering the Assembly chamber, Adhikari was seen bowing at the entrance of the House and offering prayers in his office chamber. The gestures were closely followed by media personnel and legislators present during the proceedings.
Oath Taken as MLA From Bhabanipur Seat
The Chief Minister took oath as the elected representative from the Bhabanipur constituency, one of the most high-profile seats in the state. In the election, he defeated Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee by a margin exceeding 15,000 votes.
Adhikari had contested from both Bhabanipur and Nandigram constituencies during the Assembly elections. While he secured victories in both seats, he chose to retain Bhabanipur and took oath as MLA from that constituency.
As a result, Nandigram, located in East Midnapore district and considered Adhikari’s political stronghold, is expected to witness a by-election in the coming months.
Senior Leaders Among Newly Sworn-In MLAs
Pro tem Speaker Tapas Roy administered the oath to the newly elected legislators during the session. Several prominent leaders were among those sworn in, including Agnimitra Paul, Dilip Ghosh, Ashok Kirtania, Kshudiram Tudu, and Nisith Pramanik.
Security arrangements around the Assembly complex remained tight throughout the day, with a heavy deployment of police and security personnel in and around the premises to ensure smooth proceedings.
Officials confirmed that the remaining legislators who could not take oath on Wednesday are scheduled to complete the process during the next phase of the swearing-in ceremony on Thursday.