Once considered Mamata Banerjee's right-hand man', Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the BJP's first Chief Minister of West Bengal on Saturday in a massive show of strength that saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and most of the Union Cabinet in attendance. Suvendu, dressed in a simple saffron kurta that echoed the simplicity of Mamata's trademark white saree and rubber slippers, took oath alongside Agnimitra Paul, Nisith Pramanik (Rajbongshi), Dilip Ghosh (OBC), Ashok Kirtania (Matua), and Kshudiram Tudu (Tribal).
Apart from PM Modi, all the chief ministers from BJP-ruled states were present, signalling the importance of the Bengal victory for the saffron party. After all, it is the birthplace of Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee. The BJP also chose May 9 for the swearing-in as it is celebrated as Rabindra Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. It was viewed as the BJP's bid to counter the TMC's narrative that the "North Indian party" would not honour Bengal's cultural ethos.
There was also a hit-tip to Bengal's culture at the Brigade Parade Ground. Around 20 stalls of sweets and jhalmuri, Bengal's OG snack, were set up at the venue. The humble jhalmuri piqued people's interest when PM Modi, during a rally in Jhargram in April, made a surprise stop to enjoy the snack.
Before the oath-taking event, PM Modi was seen hugging and touching the feet of 98-year-old Makhanlal Sarkar. Few may know Sarkar, the oldest BJP worker in Bengal, who helped build the party's grassroots. In 1952, he was arrested in Kashmir while accompanying Syama Prasad Mookerjee during the movement to hoist the tricolour there.
WHO ARE SUVENDU'S MINISTERS?
The choice of ministers indicates the BJP's bid to balance caste equations.
While Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is a Brahmin, former state BJP president Dilip Ghosh is the OBC face. Ghosh, a prominent face in Bengal's politics, played a major role in expanding the BJP's grassroots network.
Agnimitra Paul, a fashion designer, is a Kayastha. She is also the BJP's lone woman face in the Cabinet for now. Paul previously served as the chief of the Bengal unit of the BJP Mahila Morcha. She was appointed the vice-president of the BJP's Bengal unit earlier this year.
Ashok Kirtania, the MLA from Bangaon Uttar, is from the Matua community. Matuas, a prominent SC group comprising about 17% of the population, have been a key supporter of the BJP in Bengal.
The implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act helped the BJP consolidate a major chunk of the Matua votes. It was a long-pending demand of the community.
Former Union Minister Nisith Pramanik is from the Rajbongshi community, whose switch to the BJP is believed to have decimated the TMC in North Bengal.
The Rajbongshis are the largest SC group in Bengal and wield influence across the Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Malda, and Murshidabad districts.
Kshudiram Tudu, who won from the Ranibandh constituency, is from the tribal community. The tribal community is believed to have overwhelmingly backed the BJP, which swept all the 16 ST reserved seats in Bengal.
It suggests the deep penetration by the BJP in regions such as Jangalmahal, parts of North Bengal and other Adivasi-concentrated pockets that were strongholds of the TMC.
