From trusted aide to biggest rival: Suvendu Adhikari becomes West Bengal chief minister
Suvendu Adhikari has been sworn in as the chief minister of India's West Bengal state, ending years of Trinamool Congress dominance there. A former close aide to Mamata Banerjee, Adhikari now leads a BJP-led government in the state. Analysts read the result as a significant gain for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's eastern strategy.
Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as chief minister of India's West Bengal state after last month's state election. The new government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), brings an end to the long-running Trinamool Congress administration of Mamata Banerjee.
Adhikari was once one of Banerjee's closest political lieutenants. He defected to the BJP in 2020 and has since become a defining opposition figure in the state. The swearing-in took place in Kolkata under heavy security.
The new government's early priorities will include the state budget, border-state security arrangements and migration cases involving Bangladesh. Nationally, the result is seen as a significant step in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's drive to expand BJP influence in eastern India, while the opposition continues to raise complaints about the conduct of the election itself.
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