Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari takes oath as MLA; to review functioning of 41 state departments today
The Statesman | 13 May 2026
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday took oath as a Member of the Legislative Assembly after the BJP’s landslide victory in the 2026 Assembly elections, marking another major political milestone in the party’s rise to power in the state. Adhikari, who won from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur, received a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the Assembly and drew attention after bowing at the steps of the Legislative Assembly before entering the House, describing the moment as part of a “new chapter” for West Bengal under BJP rule.
The swearing-in inside the Assembly came days after Adhikari took oath as the ninth Chief Minister of West Bengal at a grand ceremony in Kolkata attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers and senior BJP leaders.
State Minister Dilip Ghosh also took oath as MLA from the Kharagpur Sadar constituency during the Assembly proceedings on Wednesday.
After taking oath as MLA, Adhikari will chair a high-level review meeting at the state secretariat in Nabanna, Howrah, to assess the functioning and performance of 41 state government departments.
According to sources in the state secretariat, the marathon review meeting is expected to focus on identifying administrative lapses, accelerating key projects, and preparing a governance roadmap for the newly formed government.
Five representatives from each department, including departmental secretaries, are expected to attend the meeting and present reports before the Chief Minister.
Officials said one of the key agenda items would be reviewing budgetary allocations for the 2026-27 financial year and assessing expenditure patterns across departments.
Sources indicated that discussions would focus on identifying sectors where spending needs to be accelerated urgently, while also examining areas considered financially wasteful.
Departmental secretaries are also expected to brief the Chief Minister on hurdles faced in implementing ongoing welfare schemes and infrastructure projects.
“The meeting is not only intended to review the functioning of departments but also to prepare a blueprint for the government’s priorities over the next six months and a broader roadmap for the next two years,” a senior official at the state secretariat said.