Kolkata, May 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the swearing-in ceremony of West Bengal’s new Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, where he received blessings from senior BJP leader Makhanlal Sarkar.
Upon arriving in Kolkata for the ceremony, PM Modi greeted thousands of BJP workers and supporters from an open jeep alongside Adhikari and state BJP president Soumitra Bhattacharya. The Brigade Parade Ground was adorned in saffron, with numerous artists performing to traditional drum beats.
After the jeep ride, PM Modi took to the stage, meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and other leaders from BJP-ruled states. He honored Makhanlal Sarkar by presenting him with a shawl and seeking his blessings.
At 98 years old, Sarkar is one of the early grassroots leaders associated with the nationalist movement in post-independence India. He was arrested in 1952 for participating in the movement to hoist the Indian flag in Kashmir alongside Syama Prasad Mukherjee.
Following the establishment of the BJP in 1980, Sarkar was appointed as the organizational coordinator for West Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri, and Darjeeling districts, successfully enrolling around 10,000 members in just one year. He served as district president for seven consecutive years from 1981, a significant achievement at the time, as BJP leaders typically do not hold the same organizational position for more than two years.
Earlier, Amit Shah announced Suvendu Adhikari’s name as the leader of the BJP legislative party during a parliamentary meeting. Subsequently, Adhikari presented his claim to form the new government to Governor R.N. Ravi at Lok Bhavan, in accordance with the rules.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.