BJP to Take Oath as West Bengal Government on May 9, Marking Historic Political Shift

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will form the new government in West Bengal, with the oath-taking ceremony scheduled for May 9 in Kolkata, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore. BJP State President Samik Bhattacharya confirmed the date, stating the event will mark the beginning of a new political era in the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his final campaign rally in Barrackpore, signaled the timeline, saying he would return to attend the swearing-in after the May 4 election results. Following the verdict, Modi referenced Tagore's ideals at BJP headquarters in New Delhi, quoting 'where the mind is without fear' as a guiding vision for the new administration.
Election Commission officials, including Principal Secretary S B Joshi and Secretary Sujit Kumar Mishra, arrived in Kolkata on May 5 to deliver the official gazette notification to Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal. On May 6, the CEO will brief Governor RN Ravi, who is expected to accept outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's resignation and request her to continue as caretaker until the new government assumes office.
The choice of May 9, which falls on Pochishe Boishakh in the Bengali calendar, adds cultural resonance, as the day is widely celebrated across West Bengal with recitals, music, and tributes to Tagore, author of India's national anthem. The BJP's victory ends a long-standing dominance by regional and left parties in the state.
Final approvals for the swearing-in are pending formal communication from the Governor's office. The court will resume hearing on Tuesday to address pending administrative transitions.