Purba Medinipur, Nandigram erupt in celebrations over Suvendu Adhikari’s elevation

West Bengal chief minister-designate Suvendu Adhikaris home town in Purba Medinipur and his constituency Nandigram erupted in celebrations on Friday after news of his election as leader of the BJP legislature party reached the district.

West Bengal chief minister-designate Suvendu Adhikari's home town in Purba Medinipur and his constituency Nandigram erupted in celebrations on Friday after news of his election as leader of the BJP legislature party reached the district. Crowds chanting 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' danced outside his Shanti Kunj residence as jubilant BJP supporters filled roads across the bustling Purba Medinipur town, which has been closely associated with the Adhikari family over the years, including father Sisir Adhikari and brother Dibyendu Adhikari. ''We were waiting for this day. Dada is like our family elder. His becoming the BJP legislature party leader is a precursor of his becoming the chief minister of West Bengal in a few hours,'' Malati Hazra, a resident of the area, said. In nearby Nandigram, victory processions with loud music went around every part of the block amid spraying of gulal and garlanding of photos of Adhikari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah put up in e-rickshaws, autorickshaws and other vehicles. ''We are happy that a 'bhumiputra' of Purba Medinipur is set to lead the state. We are happy that the hegemony of Kolkata over other districts in having someone helming the state is going to be realised,'' Pabitra Maity, a local trader said. Addressing party legislators after being elected the leader of the BJP legislature party, Adhikari said the atmosphere of fear in Bengal had ended and asserted that the state would now move towards an era of ''trust''. ''Bhoi is out and, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji has said, bharosa is in,'' Adhikari said amid loud cheers from party MLAs and supporters. The senior BJP leader was earlier in the day unanimously elected the leader of the BJP legislature party in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the party's top state leadership, paving the way for him to become the first BJP chief minister of West Bengal. Adhikari, one of the principal architects of the BJP's rise in Bengal, is set to be sworn in as the ninth chief minister of the state at a grand ceremony at Brigade Parade Grounds here on Saturday morning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah and several senior BJP leaders are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony, party sources said. The BJP's victory in the assembly polls has ended the Trinamool Congress's 15-year rule in the state and marked the saffron party's first ascent to power in West Bengal.