Desk Correspondent , Kolkata - Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday touched the feet of 98-year-old Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran Makhanlal Sarkar and sought his blessings during the swearing-in ceremony of Suvendu Adhikari as West Bengal’s first BJP Chief Minister at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground. The emotional gesture, which drew loud cheers from party workers and supporters, occurred just before Adhikari took oath, marking a watershed moment as the BJP formed its first government in the state since Independence after securing 207 seats in the 2026 Assembly elections. Senior BJP leaders including Union ministers Rajnath Singh, JP Nadda, and Dharmendra Pradhan, along with several chief ministers, attended the event.
Makhanlal Sarkar, regarded as one of the BJP’s earliest grassroots organisers in West Bengal, has been associated with the nationalist movement since post-Independence years. In 1952, he was arrested in Kashmir while accompanying Syama Prasad Mookerjee during the campaign to hoist the Indian tricolour there. After the BJP’s formation in 1980, he served as organisational coordinator for West Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri, and Darjeeling districts, enrolling nearly 10,000 members within a year. He held the position of district president continuously for seven years from 1981, an exceptional tenure in that era. A resident of Siliguri, Sarkar’s lifelong dedication symbolises the party’s deep roots in the region.
The ceremony symbolises the end of Trinamool Congress’s 15-year rule and the dawn of what Adhikari termed the “Sonar Bangla” era of development under a “double engine” government. Adhikari, who defeated Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur, expressed pride in welcoming PM Modi for this historic transition. Modi’s respectful act towards Sarkar highlighted the party’s reverence for its veteran leaders and underscored themes of continuity and gratitude amid political change. The event has gone viral on social media, evoking widespread admiration for the Prime Minister’s humility and the veteran’s contributions.
PM Modi Bows to Crowd as Suvendu Adhikari Takes Oath as West Bengal's First BJP Chief Minister
Suvendu Adhikari Sworn in as West Bengal's First BJP Chief Minister
Subramani, retired after serving as the 47th Vice Chief of the Army Staff until July 2025 soon to be next Chief of Defence Staff
TVK's Vijay Falls Short of Majority as Ally Support Crumbles in Tamil Nadu
Government officials stated that the brief but intense war provided a glimpse into the future of "drone-led" warfare, prompting an immediate shift toward securing airports as frontline military targets
the actor-politician strongly condemned the spread of misinformation online
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized India's commitment to dialogue for restoring peace and stability West Asia
Rupee hits record 95.39 vs USD as US-Iran Gulf strikes crush peace hopes, spiking oil fears for India's economy. RBI watches closely!
‘Scary as Hell’: Panic Grips Citizens as Government Tests Emergency Alert System
many of these issues began to stabilize as the airline integrated newer leased aircraft and started receiving deliveries from its massive 470-plane order
India has managed to avoid the fuel shortages and hyperinflation seen in other importing nations over the past months
Key Operative of Foreign-Based Gangsters Arrested in Mohali, Weapon Seized
US has paused Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz for now, as talks with Ira...
Governor presented citations to several outstanding units of the Army, Assam Rif...
Pune Tourist Rescued Following 150-Foot Plunge at Sinhagad Fort While Taking Pho...
Twin Blasts Near Military Establishments Put Punjab on High Alert
