Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a heartfelt moment at the swearing-in ceremony of Suvendu Adhikari as West Bengal’s new Chief Minister when he touched the feet of 98-year-old BJP veteran Makhan Lal Sarkar.
The gesture drew loud cheers from supporters gathered at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata.
Sarkar remains one of the earliest grassroots figures in the nationalist movement. In 1952, he was arrested in Kashmir while accompanying Syama Prasad Mookerjee during the tricolour hoisting movement. His long association with the party continued after the BJP’s formation in 1980, when he became organisational coordinator for West Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri, and Darjeeling districts. Within a year, he enrolled nearly 10,000 members and later served seven years as district president, a rare achievement in the party’s structure.
At the ceremony, Modi greeted Sarkar warmly, touched his feet, and sought his blessings on stage. The Prime Minister’s gesture symbolised respect for Sarkar’s lifelong dedication to the party and the nationalist cause.
The oath-taking marked a historic political shift in West Bengal as the BJP formed its first government in the state after winning 207 of 294 assembly seats. The Brigade Parade Grounds turned into a sea of saffron as supporters from across Bengal, neighbouring states, and even overseas joined the celebrations.
Cultural performances, folk dances, and traditional music added local flavour to the event, while supporters enjoyed packets of jhal muri, a popular Bengali snack. The ceremony highlighted both the political milestone and Bengal’s rich cultural heritage.
