In a move steeped in cultural and political symbolism, the Bharatiya Janata Party is likely to be sworn in to form the new government in West Bengal on May 9, coinciding with Rabindra Jayanti, which marks the birth of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Sources close to the party and the government formation process say the date is being considered to signal a fresh beginning for the state.
Samik Bhattacharya confirmed the date, stating that the oath-taking ceremony of the new Chief Minister of West Bengal will be held on May 9, according to ANI. Meanwhile, Narendra Modi had earlier hinted at this timeline during his final campaign rally in Barrackpore, expressing confidence that he would return after the May 4 results to attend the BJP’s swearing-in ceremony.
After West Bengal’s historic verdict on Monday, Narendra Modi invoked the ideals of Rabindranath Tagore while addressing party workers at the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters in New Delhi, saying the party aims to build a Bengal “where the mind is without fear and the head is held high,” echoing the spirit of Gurudev’s timeless vision.
Senior officials of the Election Commission of India – Principal Secretary S. B. Joshi and Secretary Sujit Kumar Mishra—are set to arrive in Kolkata on May 5 from Delhi to hand over the official gazette notification of the election results to Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Kumar Agarwal.
The CEO is then expected to brief RN Ravi on May 6, following which the Governor will invite outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to submit her resignation as per constitutional protocol. He is also likely to request her to continue as caretaker Chief Minister until the new government is sworn in, ensuring administrative continuity.
According to sources, the proposed date – Pochishe Boishakh (May 9) – not only fits within the usual post-election timeline but also carries deep emotional significance in a state that deeply reveres Rabindranath Tagore, the composer of the national anthem.
Celebrated with great devotion on the 25th of Baishakh, the occasion transcends a mere birthday, becoming a festival of Bengali identity. The poetry, Rabindra Sangeet, literature, and humanist philosophy of Rabindranath Tagore continue to shape everyday life, from school recitations to cultural events resonating with his verses.
With the Bharatiya Janata Party set to end more than four-and-a-half decades of rule by the Left and the All India Trinamool Congress, the swearing-in is expected to be a landmark moment in West Bengal’s political history. Official announcements are likely soon as preparations gather pace.