Massive preparations are underway at Kolkata’s iconic Brigade Parade Ground as BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari will take oath as party’s first Chief Minister of West Bengal on Saturday.
Adhikari was elected
as BJP legislature party leader in a meeting held in the presence of BJP central observer Amit Shah in Kolkata on Friday. Shah was appointed as the BJP’s central observer for West Bengal, with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi serving as the central co-observer.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and other Union Ministers will be present in the swearing-in ceremony that will take place at the iconic ground. Preparations for the grand event are underway at the venue.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Governor RN Ravi officially dissolved the West Bengal Legislative Assembly on May 7, even as outgoing chief minister of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government Mamata Banerjee refused to tender her resignation.
While she may technically remain in a transitional “caretaker” capacity to prevent an administrative vacuum, she no longer has the constitutional authority to make major policy decisions or govern as a regular Chief Minister.
Now the question arises that will Mamata Banerjee attend the oath ceremony tomorrow?
While there is no fixed constitutional rule or rigid statutory law requiring an outgoing Chief Minister to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new Chief Minister, it is mainly guided by political convention, courtesy, and the relationship between the outgoing and incoming leadership.
As a convention, outgoing Chief Ministers attend the oath ceremony to signal a smooth democratic transition. It is also customary for the outgoing CM to be present to welcome dignitaries and congratulate the new CM, showcasing a “passing of the torch”.
However, there have also been several instances where outgoing CMs skipped the ceremony due to political bitterness, strained relations, health reasons, or scheduling issues. Their absence is not considered a protocol violation.
