kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK : Kolkata, May 6: The political moment for West Bengal, the Bharatiya Janata Party is set to form the new state government with a grand swearing-in ceremony scheduled for May 9 at the iconic Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata. The oath-taking ceremony, which will begin at 10 am on Saturday, coincides with 25 Baisakh in the Bengali calendar and is being projected as a symbolic beginning for what party leaders describe as a “government of the people.”

The ceremony will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, along with several senior leaders from the BJP’s national leadership. BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya confirmed the date and venue on Wednesday, stating that the new Chief Minister of West Bengal will take the oath of office in front of a large gathering of supporters and party workers at Brigade Parade Ground.

Describing the move as “innovative and historic,” Bhattacharya said the party deliberately chose to organize the swearing-in ceremony in an open public space rather than a conventional closed-door setting such as Raj Bhavan. According to him, the decision reflects the BJP’s commitment to transparency and public participation. “On May 9 at 10 am, the oath-taking ceremony will be held at Brigade Parade Ground,” he announced, adding that the new government will symbolically begin its journey amidst the people it seeks to serve.

The Brigade Parade Ground has long been associated with major political rallies and mass mobilisations in West Bengal. Over the decades, it has hosted significant gatherings by various political parties, making it a venue charged with historical and political significance. By choosing this ground for the swearing-in, the BJP aims to underscore the scale of its electoral victory and signal the beginning of what it calls a new political chapter in the state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah repeatedly emphasised the promise of establishing a “people’s government” in West Bengal. They asserted that their administration would prioritise governance reforms, development initiatives, and law-and-order improvements. Party leaders now say that beginning the government’s tenure in the midst of a public gathering is a natural extension of that campaign pledge.

Sources within the party indicated that elaborate preparations are underway to accommodate thousands of attendees, including party workers from across districts. Security arrangements are expected to be extensive, given the presence of the Prime Minister, the Union Home Minister, and other top national leaders. Senior BJP figures, including national president Nitin Nabin, are also expected to attend the ceremony, turning the event into a show of unity and strength for the party’s central and state leadership.

The swearing-in, Amit Shah is scheduled to hold a meeting with the newly elected BJP legislators on May 8. The meeting is expected to finalise internal arrangements, including legislative party leadership formalities and strategic priorities for the new government. Observers believe that the gathering will also serve as a platform to reinforce discipline and cohesion among the party’s lawmakers as they prepare to assume administrative responsibilities.

Political analysts view the open-air swearing-in ceremony as both symbolic and strategic. Symbolically, it projects an image of accessibility and mass endorsement. Strategically, it consolidates the party’s narrative of having secured a decisive mandate from the electorate. By inviting the public to witness the oath-taking, the BJP appears keen to frame its victory as a collective achievement rather than a purely political transition.

The timing of the ceremony on 25 Baisakh, a date of cultural importance in Bengal, has also drawn attention. Party insiders suggest that the choice of date was intentional, aiming to blend political change with cultural resonance and to signal a fresh beginning for the state.

Kolkata prepares for heightened political activity, attention now turns to the identity of the new Chief Minister and the composition of the Cabinet. While the party leadership has yet to make an official announcement on ministerial portfolios, expectations are high that the new government will outline its immediate priorities soon after taking office.

With the presence of the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister, the May 9 event is set to become one of the most high-profile political ceremonies in West Bengal in recent years. Supporters see it as the dawn of a new era, while critics will be closely watching how the new administration translates campaign promises into governance.

All eyes are on Brigade Parade Ground, where, under the watch of national leaders and a sea of supporters, West Bengal’s new government will take its first formal step into office.