End of Fear, Now Era of Trust, Bengal’s New Chief Minister Sets a Different Tone
West Bengal’s newly sworn-in Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday declared that the “air of fear” in the State has ended and “trust has taken its place.” He made the remarks while leaving his home town of Kanthi in Purba Medinipur district for Kolkata after receiving a rousing welcome from supporters following his swearing-in a day before. “Bhoy (fear) out, bhorsa (trust) in. Prime Minister Narendra Modiji has given the assurance. West Bengal will progress with the involvement of every stakeholder in an atmosphere of hope and trust,” the Chief Minister told reporters.
The language is deliberate and evocative. The previous Trinamool Congress government, which ruled the state for 15 years, was often accused of fostering a culture of political violence, intimidation, and patronage. Mr. Adhikari, himself a former Trinamool leader who crossed over to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2020, has positioned himself as the champion of those who were silenced. His slogan, “Bhoy out, bhorsa in,” is not just a political catchphrase; it is a promise to restore the rule of law.
After taking oath at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata on Saturday and completing official engagements, Mr. Adhikari travelled to Kanthi late at night after offering prayers at Kalighat Kali Temple. The visit to Kanthi was not merely a homecoming; it was a symbolic act. Kanthi is his political base, and the rousing welcome he received was a demonstration of local support. By going there before assuming office, he was signalling that he would not forget his roots.
He will chair his first Cabinet meeting on Monday at Nabanna, the administrative headquarters of the State. In the first Cabinet meeting, portfolios will be allocated to the five Ministers who were sworn in along with the Chief Minister on Saturday. The Cabinet is likely to establish inquiry commissions into “atrocities against women” during the Trinamool Congress’s regime. This is a significant move. The issue of violence against women has been a recurring theme in Bengal’s politics, with opposition parties alleging that the previous government failed to protect women and, in some cases, actively shielded perpetrators.
The Cabinet is also likely to set up inquiry commissions into other alleged irregularities of the previous government. This could include investigations into education scams, land grabs, and the misuse of government funds. The challenge for the new government will be to conduct these inquiries in a transparent and non-partisan manner. If the inquiries are seen as politically motivated, they could backfire.
Mr. Adhikari will also hold three administrative meetings in Nabanna during the day. He will first hold a review meeting with top administration officials. After this, the Chief Minister is likely to hold a meeting with the District Magistrates in the afternoon. Later, he will chair a meeting with top officials of the State police force. According to sources, the meeting will be attended by the Director General of the West Bengal police, the Commissioner of Police of Kolkata, and other high-ranking officials from various zones. The focus of these meetings will be on restoring law and order.
On Sunday, Kolkata Police Commissioner Ajay Nand and Howrah Police Commissioner Akhilesh Chaturvedi visited Nabanna and took stock of the security arrangements at the building. The heightened security is a recognition of the political volatility. Bengal has a history of post-election violence. The new government is taking no chances.
Mr. Adhikari had said that his task is to rebuild West Bengal. “West Bengal has suffered a lot. Culture has been destroyed. Education has been lost. We will rebuild West Bengal. There are many responsibilities,” he had said after taking the oath. This is a sweeping indictment of the previous government. But it also sets a high bar for his own performance. The voters of Bengal will judge him on whether he can deliver on his promises.
He will shift his Kolkata base to a State-run guest house in Alipore, an official said on Sunday. Until now, Mr. Adhikari had been staying at an apartment in Chinar Park on the northern fringes of the city. The shift to the Alipore guest house is a practical necessity, but it is also symbolic. The Chief Minister’s official residence is a symbol of power. By moving into a government facility, Mr. Adhikari is signalling that he is settling into his role.
The new government faces a daunting set of challenges. The state’s finances are stretched. The economy is still recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Unemployment is high. The industrial sector is weak. The government will need to attract investment, create jobs, and improve infrastructure. The political capital that Mr. Adhikari has earned from his victory will be spent quickly. He will need to show results.
The relationship between the new government and the Centre will be a key factor. Mr. Adhikari is a BJP leader, and the BJP is in power at the Centre. This is a significant change from the previous regime, which was in constant conflict with the Centre. The new government can expect cooperation from the Centre, which could translate into faster approvals, more funds, and greater support for infrastructure projects. But the state government will also need to maintain its autonomy. Bengal has a proud history of regional identity, and the new Chief Minister will need to balance his loyalty to the party with his responsibility to the state.
The first Cabinet meeting on Monday will set the tone for the new government. The decisions taken there will signal the priorities of the administration. The allocation of portfolios will indicate who holds power. The establishment of inquiry commissions will signal the government’s willingness to hold the previous regime accountable. The people of Bengal are watching. The era of fear, the new Chief Minister says, is over. The era of trust has begun. The test of his leadership will be whether he can keep that promise.
Questions and Answers
Q1: What did the newly sworn-in Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari say about the change in atmosphere in West Bengal?
A1: He declared that the “air of fear” in the State has ended and “trust has taken its place.” He said, “Bhoy (fear) out, bhorsa (trust) in. West Bengal will progress with the involvement of every stakeholder in an atmosphere of hope and trust.”
Q2: Where will the first Cabinet meeting be held, and what is likely to be on the agenda?
A2: The first Cabinet meeting will be held at Nabanna, the administrative headquarters of the State. Portfolios will be allocated to the five Ministers, and the Cabinet is likely to establish inquiry commissions into “atrocities against women” during the previous Trinamool Congress regime.
Q3: What administrative meetings does the Chief Minister plan to hold on Monday?
A3: He will hold three administrative meetings: a review meeting with top administration officials, a meeting with District Magistrates in the afternoon, and a meeting with top officials of the State police force, including the DGP, Kolkata Police Commissioner, and other high-ranking officers.
Q4: What was the Chief Minister’s assessment of the damage done to West Bengal under the previous government?
A4: He said, “West Bengal has suffered a lot. Culture has been destroyed. Education has been lost. We will rebuild West Bengal. There are many responsibilities.”
Q5: Where will the Chief Minister shift his Kolkata base, and where had he been staying previously?
A5: He will shift his Kolkata base to a State-run guest house in Alipore. Until now, he had been staying at an apartment in Chinar Park on the northern fringes of the city.
