Bengal Sets May 9 Oath as BJP’s Suvendu Heads to Delhi

Oath ceremony on T  agore’s birth anniversary as opposition calls BJP’s Assam, Bengal victory a ‘threat to democracy’

The Bharatiya Janata Party is moving swiftly to form its first-ever government in West Bengal, with the swearing-in of the new Chief Minister scheduled for May 9. The announcement, made by state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya, ends days of speculation and sets the stage for a historic political transition in a state long dominated by the Trinamool Congress.

The date coincides with the 165th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, a symbolic choice that the party hopes will resonate culturally. As per the Bengali calendar, the occasion falls on the 25th day of Boishakh. While Bhattacharya confirmed the timeline, he stopped short of naming the chief minister. Sources indicated that Union ministers and top leadership are expected to attend.

Suvendu’s Delhi visit

Ahead of the oath-taking, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari—who delivered a stunning blow by defeating Mamata Banerjee from the Bhawanipur seat—left for Delhi this morning. The visit is being seen as crucial for finalising the power-sharing details and the new cabinet lineup. Photographs showed Adhikari leaving his residence around 11 am, avoiding reporters’ questions.

“Details about who will attend and who will become CM have not been disclosed yet, but the leadership is in talks,” a BJP functionary said on condition of anonymity.

‘Theft of mandate’ claim

The celebratory mood in the BJP camp, however, drew sharp criticism from the opposition. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi termed the BJP’s performance in Assam and West Bengal a “threat to democracy,” alleging that mandates were manipulated.

“Leaders from the Congress and other parties celebrating the defeat of Trinamool Congress should rise above petty politics. This is not about one party but about India as a whole,” Gandhi said, warning that the fight now is not for power but for political relevance.

His remarks came as initial reports of post-poll tension trickled in. Bhattacharya condemned instances where people carrying BJP flags allegedly engaged in vandalism. “We condemn this. If anyone does such a thing, we will be compelled to expel them,” he said, urging workers to remain peaceful.

TN’s political realignment

In Tamil Nadu, the political arithmetic has shifted dramatically. Actor-turned-politician Vijay’s TVK emerged as the single-largest party with 108 seats. He won from both seats he contested. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, reduced to 59 seats, is now headed to the opposition benches. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin tendered his resignation this afternoon, with sources confirming the letter was sent to Governor R.N. Ravi’s office.

Stalin, however, struck a defiant tone. “I consider each of your 1.54 crore votes as an invaluable token of trust,” he tweeted, as his party’s cadres gathered outside the Chennai headquarters.

‘Lottery king’ family wins three seats

In a striking subplot to the elections, three members of ‘lottery king’ Santiago Martin’s family have won assembly seats across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Martin, who became a national talking point as the biggest buyer of electoral bonds, saw his wife Lima Rose win the Lalgudi seat on an AIADMK ticket. His son Jose Charles won from Kamaraj Nagar in Puducherry, while son-in-law Adhav Arjun won from Villivakkam.

Election analysts noted that the family’s political spread—across three different parties—underscores the deep penetration of money power in the electoral process.

The BJP now directly or through allies governs states representing 78% of the country’s population and 72% of its land area. The losses in Bengal (42 Lok Sabha seats) and Tamil Nadu (39 seats) have effectively collapsed the opposition’s southern and eastern flanks, leaving Kerala’s Congress victory as a small consolation.

For now, all eyes are on May 9. The question of who will take the oath—and whether the opposition can regroup—remains unanswered.