At the swearing-in ceremony of Suvendu Adhikari as the ninth Chief Minister of West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought blessings from Makhanlal Sarkar, a senior BJP worker in the state. PM Modi, accompanied by Adhikari and BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya, greeted the crowd while riding an open jeep at the Brigade Parade Grounds. The venue was adorned in saffron colors with traditional drum performances.
After the jeep ride, PM Modi met various dignitaries, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. He also greeted Makhanlal Sarkar, a key grassroots figure associated with India’s nationalist movement post-Independence. Sarkar, aged 98, has a long history of involvement in nationalist activities.
Makhanlal Sarkar was arrested in Kashmir in 1952 during a movement led by Syama Prasad Mookerjee to hoist the Indian Tricolor. He played a significant role in organizing the BJP in West Bengal’s districts of West Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri, and Darjeeling. Sarkar’s dedication is evident from his seven-year tenure as district president, a rare feat in BJP’s organizational structure during that time.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah officially announced Suvendu Adhikari as BJP’s Legislative Party leader during a parliamentary party meeting. Subsequently, Adhikari proposed the formation of a new government to Governor RN Ravi at Lok Bhavan, following the party’s protocol.
