Updates: "Don't Take Law Into Your Hands": Suvendu Adhikari Appeals For Calm

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Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Ashok Kirtania, Kshudiram Tudu, and Nisith Pramanik took oath of office as Ministers

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May 09, 2026 12:59 pm IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with West Bengal Governor RN Ravi, State Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and BJP MLAs Agnimitra Paul, Nisith Pramanik, Kshudiram Tudu, and others, during the oath-taking ceremony as party forms government in the state for the first time, at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata, West Bengal, on May 9, 2026.

| Photo Credit:

PTI

Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the first BJP Chief Minister of West Bengal on Saturday (May 9, 2026). Mr. Adhikari was sworn in by Governor R.N. Ravi, along with five other MLAs, who will join the Council of Ministers: Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Ashok Kirtania, Kshudiram Tudu, and Nisith PramanikThe swearing in ceremony was attended by PM Modi, along with top brass of NDA, including Ministers from the Central Government and Chief Minsters of other States.Mr. Adhikari (57) contested and won from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur in the recently concluded Assembly election. He had defeated former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur by a margin of 15,115 votes.Also read: BJP’s victory in Bengal will plug a big hole in national security, says Amit ShahSince the election results were announced on Monday (May 4, 2026), instances of post-poll violence erupted across Bengal. On Wednesday (May 6, 2026), BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari’s personal assistant was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the Madhyamgram area in the State’s North 24 Parganas district. Follow live updates here:Key Updates

Home

Elections

West Bengal

Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Ashok Kirtania, Kshudiram Tudu, and Nisith Pramanik took oath of office as Ministers

Updated

May 09, 2026 12:59 pm IST

| Photo Credit:

PTI

Suvendu Adhikari Oath Ceremony LIVE Updates: PM Modi, BJP Ministers, Allies Reach Parade Ground NDTV West Bengal oath-taking LIVE: PM Modi arrives at Kolkata's Brigade Parade ground, ahead of Suvendu Adhikari's swearing-in The Hindu Backdrop For Suvendu Adhikari's Oath Showcases Bengal's Culture NDTV West Bengal CM swearing-in LIVE updates | Suvendu Adhikari set to take oath as Bengal's first-ever BJP CM today Deccan Herald Journey from Nandigram to writers’ buildings: The political journey of Suvendu Adhikari The Times of India

The driver of Suvendu Adhikari’s close aide’s car remains very critical. People are seen here after the attack in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas, on May 6, 2026

| Photo Credit: PTI

The driver of the car, which was targeted by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's close aide Chandranath Rath's assailants, is in a critical condition at a hospital here, police sources said on Thursday (May 7, 2026).Buddhadeb Bera, who was driving Rath's car, sustained bullet injuries and has undergone multiple surgeries, a senior official of the hospital said."His condition continues to be very critical. He underwent a couple of surgical procedures and is being closely monitored in the intensive care unit," the official told PTI.Doctors were "doing everything possible" to stabilise Mr. Bera, he added.West Bengal's post-poll tension took a bloody turn on Wednesday (May 6, 2026) night after Chandranath Rath, a close aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead in North 24 Parganas in what the saffron camp described as a "targeted assassination", triggering outrage, protests and fresh allegations of political violence.According to preliminary information, Rath was intercepted near Doltala in Madhyamgram around 10.30 p.m. by motorcycle-borne assailants who tailed his vehicle, forced it to stop and opened fire before fleeing.Investigators said that Rath's vehicle was intercepted barely 100 metres from his residential complex around 10.15 p.m. on Wednesday (May 6, 2026). Published - May 07, 2026 03:20 pm IST

In this image received on May 6, 2026, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's personal assistant Chandranath Rath was shot at from close range by unidentified assailants in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district on Wednesday (May 6, 2026) night, sources said.

| Photo Credit: PTI

Chandranath Rath, the close aide of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari who was shot dead in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, had travelled an unusual path — from serving in the Indian Air Force to becoming one of the Opposition leader’s most trusted political associates.Rath, 41, originally hailed from Chandipur in Purba Medinipur district, the political turf that shaped Mr. Adhikari’s rise in Bengal politics, party sources said.Soft-spoken and low-profile, he remained largely away from public attention despite being part of Mr. Adhikari’s inner circle for years.Before entering active political organisational work, Rath had spent nearly two decades in the Indian Air Force after completing his studies at Rahara Ramakrishna Mission.People close to the family said he had once considered a spiritual life and was deeply influenced by the Ramakrishna Mission ethos during his student years.After taking voluntary retirement from the Air Force, he briefly worked in the corporate sector before gradually moving into political coordination and administrative responsibilities.His family, like Mr. Adhikari’s, had earlier been associated with the Trinamool Congress.His mother Hasi Rath had held a position in a local panchayat body in Purba Medinipur during the TMC years before shifting allegiance to the BJP along with Adhikari in 2020.Family acquaintances said the connection between the Rath family and Mr. Adhikari went back more than two decades to the early years of the TMC’s expansion in Purba Medinipur.Rath formally became part of Mr. Adhikari’s official team around 2019, when the latter was serving as a Minister in the Mamata Banerjee government.He initially handled responsibilities linked to Mr. Adhikari’s ministerial office and later continued in a similar role after Mr. Adhikari crossed over to the saffron camp.Over the years, Rath emerged as a key backroom figure in Mr. Adhikari’s political operations, coordinating organisational work, managing logistics and maintaining communication with party workers.BJP insiders described him as someone who enjoyed Mr. Adhikari’s complete confidence and was often involved in sensitive assignments linked to campaign management and political coordination.He was also part of the core team during several high-voltage political battles, including the BJP’s Bhabanipur campaign.Within sections of the BJP organisation, there had even been speculation that Rath could be entrusted with a larger administrative responsibility if Mr. Adhikari assumed a bigger role in government after the Assembly polls.

Also Read : West Bengal elections: Trinamool involved in 64% of the poll violence in past decadeThose discussions came to an abrupt end on Wednesday (May 6, 2026) night when motorcycle-borne assailants allegedly intercepted his vehicle near Madhyamgram’s Doharia area and opened fire at close range.His killing has triggered sharp political reactions in Bengal and intensified the already volatile atmosphere following the Assembly election results. Published - May 07, 2026 06:31 am IST

Updates: "Don't Take Law Into Your Hands": Suvendu Adhikari Appeals For Calm NDTV Suvendu Adhikari's close aide Chandranath Rath shot dead in West Bengal's Madhyamgram The Times of India Suvendu Adhikari's Aide Murdered: What Top Cop Said NDTV Suvendu Adhikari aide shot dead as post-poll violence rocks Bengal The Indian Express Suvendu Adhikari’s personal assistant shot dead The Hindu

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Updates: "Don't Take Law Into Your Hands": Suvendu Adhikari Appeals For Calm

West Bengal oath-taking LIVE: Suvendu Adhikari sworn in as first BJP CM of West Bengal, five other MLAs also take oath

West Bengal oath-taking LIVE: Suvendu Adhikari sworn in as first BJP CM of West Bengal, five other MLAs also take oath

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