Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has congratulated Suvendu Adhikari following his swearing-in as West Bengal Chief Minister, praising his “strong, people-oriented leadership.”

Adhikari took oath as the state’s first BJP Chief Minister during a high-profile ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers and several NDA chief ministers.

In her message, Hasina reportedly expressed hope that Adhikari’s tenure would strengthen regional cooperation and reflect the aspirations of the people of West Bengal.

The BJP secured a sweeping mandate in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, winning 207 seats in the 294-member assembly and ending the long rule of the Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee.

Adhikari, who emerged as one of the BJP’s key faces in Bengal politics after joining the party in 2020, was formally elected leader of the BJP legislature party ahead of the oath-taking ceremony.

The new Bengal Chief Minister has said his government will focus on development, governance and implementation of the BJP’s election promises.

The Centre has appointed Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani as India’s next Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), succeeding General Anil Chauhan, whose tenure will conclude on May 30.

According to the government announcement, Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani will also serve as Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Military Affairs from the date he assumes charge and until further orders.

Lt Gen Subramani is currently serving as the Military Adviser at the National Security Council Secretariat, a role he has held since September 2025. Before that, he served as Vice Chief of the Army Staff between July 2024 and July 2025.

A senior officer from the Garhwal Rifles, he was commissioned into the Indian Army in December 1985 and has held several important operational and command positions during his military career. He has commanded formations in Jammu and Kashmir, the Northeast and along the western front.

Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani is an alumnus of the National Defence Academy and the Indian Military Academy. He also studied at the Joint Services Command and Staff College in the United Kingdom and the National Defence College in New Delhi. He holds a Master’s degree from King’s College London and an MPhil in Defence Studies from the University of Madras.

The post of Chief of Defence Staff was created in 2020 to improve coordination among the Army, Navy and Air Force. General Bipin Rawat became India’s first CDS, followed by General Anil Chauhan in 2022. Lt Gen NS Raja Subramani will become the country’s third CDS after assuming office.

Suvendu Adhikari is set to take oath as the Chief Minister of West Bengal, becoming the first leader from the Bharatiya Janata Party to head the state government.

The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata and is expected to witness the presence of several senior BJP leaders and supporters from across the state.

Adhikari was unanimously elected as the BJP legislature party leader after the party secured a decisive victory in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. His appointment marks a significant political change in the state, where the BJP is forming the government for the first time.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and several Union ministers are expected to attend the ceremony. Reports also indicate that the oath event has been planned on a large public scale to underline the BJP’s breakthrough in Bengal politics.

Adhikari emerged as one of the BJP’s key faces in Bengal after defeating Mamata Banerjee in the high-profile Nandigram contest in 2021 and later consolidating his position within the party’s state leadership.

Security arrangements have been tightened around the oath venue, while party workers have gathered in large numbers ahead of the ceremony. The event is being viewed as a landmark moment in West Bengal’s political history.