ElectionResults – Bengal Assembly Witnesses High-Profile Swearing-In Ceremony
ElectionResults – The newly constituted West Bengal Assembly witnessed a significant political moment on Wednesday as several newly elected legislators from the Trinamool Congress met Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari during the oath-taking ceremony at the Assembly complex in Kolkata.
Among those who visited the Chief Minister’s chamber were Hariharpara MLA Niyamat Sheikh, Raghunathganj representative Akhrujjaman, and Suti legislator Imani Biswas. Their meeting with the newly elected Chief Minister drew considerable attention within political circles, particularly because the Bharatiya Janata Party secured a commanding majority in the recent Assembly elections.
BJP Registers Massive Electoral Victory
The BJP emerged as the dominant political force in the state after winning 207 seats in the 294-member Assembly. The Trinamool Congress, led by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, was reduced to 80 seats following one of its poorest performances in recent years.
Political analysts noted that the BJP had fielded Hindu candidates across all constituencies during the elections. Despite the party not nominating any Muslim candidate, the Trinamool Congress currently has around 24 Muslim legislators among its elected members.
The meetings between some opposition MLAs and the Chief Minister sparked discussions within the BJP camp, with several leaders informally expressing surprise over the development. However, senior political observers pointed out that it is customary for legislators from both ruling and opposition parties to greet the Chief Minister during Assembly proceedings and swearing-in ceremonies.
Symbolic Gestures Mark Chief Minister’s Arrival
Suvendu Adhikari arrived at the Assembly premises around 11 am and began the day by paying floral tributes to the statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. He was later accorded a ceremonial guard of honour at the complex.
The Chief Minister also made a symbolic gesture before entering the Assembly chamber. He bowed at the entrance and touched his forehead to the ground before proceeding inside. After entering his office chamber, he reportedly offered prayers before participating in the legislative proceedings.
Earlier this week, Adhikari had received a similar ceremonial reception at Nabanna, the state secretariat, during his first visit there after assuming office as Chief Minister.
Oath Taken as Bhabanipur MLA
The Chief Minister formally took oath as a member of the Assembly from the Bhabanipur constituency, where he defeated Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee by a margin exceeding 15,000 votes.
The election battle in Bhabanipur was considered one of the most closely watched contests in the state. Adhikari had simultaneously contested from both Bhabanipur and Nandigram, his traditional political stronghold in East Midnapore district.
He secured victory in both constituencies but eventually chose to retain the Bhabanipur seat. As a result, Nandigram will now witness a by-election in the coming months.
Bhabanipur has long been regarded as a politically important constituency due to its association with Mamata Banerjee, who represented the seat during her tenure as Chief Minister.
Security Tightened at Assembly Complex
The oath-taking ceremony was administered by Pro tem Speaker Tapas Roy. Several prominent BJP leaders were among those sworn in as legislators, including Agnimitra Paul, Dilip Ghosh, Ashok Kirtania, Kshudiram Tudu, and Nisith Pramanik.
Authorities implemented extensive security arrangements around the Assembly premises to maintain order during the proceedings. A heavy deployment of police personnel and security forces was visible throughout the complex as legislators, party workers, and officials gathered for the inaugural session.
Officials confirmed that the swearing-in process for the remaining newly elected MLAs will continue on Thursday at the Assembly.