Adhikari meets PM Modi in first official Delhi visit as West Bengal CM, seeks push for ‘double-engine growth’
The Statesman | 23 May 2026
Newly-elected West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi during his first official visit to the national capital since assuming office, signalling what both sides described as a renewed phase of cooperation between the state and the Centre focused on development, welfare delivery and border security.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) confirmed the meeting in a post on X, stating: “Chief Minister of West Bengal, Shri @SuvenduWB met Prime Minister @narendramodi.”
Following the meeting, Adhikari described the interaction as “fruitful” and said the Prime Minister had reiterated the Centre’s commitment to West Bengal’s development. In a detailed post on social media, the Chief Minister said he was “honoured and privileged” to have met Modi and thanked him for his “warm wishes” and “unwavering commitment to the progress” of the state.
“This marks my first Official Meeting with PM since assuming the responsibility of serving the People of West Bengal as the Chief Minister,” Adhikari said. “Prime Minister reemphasized his vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and reiterated that the development of West Bengal remains a top priority for the Central Government.”
He further said that the Prime Minister had assured “all possible help, guidance, and Central Support to rescue West Bengal from years of stagnation and place it firmly on the fast track of economic growth, industrial revival and youth empowerment.”
“With the blessings of the Centre and the trust of the People, we are ready to usher in a new era of double-engine growth, transparent governance, and holistic development for West Bengal,” Adhikari added.
The visit is being viewed as politically significant as it comes shortly after the Bharatiya Janata Party formed its first government in West Bengal under Adhikari’s leadership following a landmark Assembly election victory earlier this month. Political observers say the meetings underscore an attempt by both the Centre and the new state administration to reset relations after years of acrimony and confrontation between Kolkata and New Delhi under the previous regime.
Adhikari’s engagements in the capital began with a meeting at the residence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, where discussions are understood to have centred on law and order, border management and coordination between state authorities and Central agencies. Sources familiar with the discussions said the leadership reviewed the security situation along the India-Bangladesh border and assessed the implementation status of various central schemes in West Bengal.
Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister also met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who congratulated him on assuming office and reportedly praised his administrative and legislative experience. Adhikari later paid courtesy visits to President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan and Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan.
The meeting with Modi, however, remained the focal point of the visit, with officials indicating that Adhikari formally sought a special financial package for West Bengal aimed at accelerating infrastructure expansion, industrial revival and welfare programmes in the state.
According to officials, discussions also included the implementation of key centrally sponsored schemes, particularly Ayushman Bharat, after the newly formed West Bengal cabinet approved the rollout of the flagship health insurance programme during its first meeting earlier this week. The state government is also expected to seek clarity on fund allocation mechanisms and faster disbursal of central assistance for welfare initiatives.
“The new government in West Bengal wants cooperative federalism to work in the true spirit of development and governance,” a senior BJP leader said. “These meetings are aimed at ensuring seamless coordination between the Centre and the state for faster delivery of benefits to the people.”
Border security emerged as another key area of focus during the discussions, particularly following the West Bengal government’s recent decision to hand over a crucial 27-kilometre stretch of land in Siliguri to the Border Security Force for long-pending fencing work along the India-Bangladesh border. Officials said enhanced surveillance infrastructure and additional deployment of security personnel in sensitive border districts are also under active consideration.
The move is being interpreted as a major policy shift after years of friction between the previous state administration and central agencies over border management issues. BJP leaders have repeatedly argued that stronger coordination between the state and the Centre is necessary to tackle infiltration, cross-border crime and illegal trafficking in border regions.
Adhikari’s Delhi visit also carries broader political implications for the BJP, which is seeking to consolidate its gains in eastern India while projecting West Bengal as a model of what the party describes as “double-engine governance” — a term used to denote alignment between state governments and the Centre under BJP leadership.
The outcome of the meetings is expected to shape the framework of Centre-state cooperation in the months ahead as the new West Bengal administration begins implementing its governance agenda with support from the Union government.