Page 7 - Narendra Modi

Suvendu Adhikari visits Tagore's home before starting work as Bengal CM

Newly sworn-in West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday drove straight to Jorasanko Thakurbari, the ancestral home of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, soon after the oath-taking ceremony and paid floral tributes to the poet before formally beginning his official duties. Dressed in a dhoti and saffron panjabi, Adhikari said he wanted to seek the blessings of Kaviguru before starting work as chief minister. "My official work begins after paying tribute to Kaviguru," he said. Invoking Swami Vivekananda, Adhikari cited the words of the monk "Charaiveti, Charaiveti" (keep going)", as he called upon people to work towards building a new Bengal. He wished for a new dawn for Bengal. "Let us rebuild Bengal," he said, adding that this was not the time for blame or criticism. Adhikari also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had wished for this day and described it as an important occasion for the state.

Suvendu deeply connected to people: Modi wishes Bengal CM 'fruitful tenure'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated Suvendu Adhikari on taking oath as West Bengal's first BJP chief minister, saying that he was deeply connected to the people and understood their aspirations. Adhikari took the oath at the iconic Brigade Parade Grounds in the presence of Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the BJP's central leadership and chief ministers of NDA-ruled states. In his message for Adhikari, Modi wished the first BJP chief minister of the state a "fruitful tenure". "Congratulations to Suvendu Adhikari Ji on taking oath as West Bengal's chief minister. He has made a mark as a leader who remained deeply connected to the people and understood their aspirations from close quarters," Modi wrote on X after attending the event. "My best wishes to him for a fruitful tenure ahead," he wrote and posted with the message an image of Goddess Durga and another of him congratulating Adhikari on the stage.

Haryana to Bengal: BJP secures first-time CMs in nine states under Modi

With the BJP's resounding victory in West Bengal, ending the 15-year rule of the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government, the party has secured the chief minister's post for the first time in nine states since Narendra Modi became prime minister in 2014. The journey began with Haryana and Maharashtra in 2014, followed by Assam (2016), Arunachal Pradesh (2016), Manipur (2017), Tripura (2018), Odisha (2024), Bihar (2026), and now West Bengal. In Haryana, the party formed a government on its own for the first time and appointed Manohar Lal Khattar as chief minister. In Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis became the state's first BJP chief minister after the BJP emerged as the single-largest party in the assembly polls and formed the government with allies in the Mahayuti alliance. The BJP expanded its footprint in the Northeast in 2016 by winning Assam, where Sarbananda Sonowal became the party's first chief minister in the state. Since then, the BJP has retained power in Assam

Jhalmuri becomes flavour of victory at Bengal BJP's maiden oath ceremony

Jhalmuri, the quintessential Bengali street snack that became an unlikely symbol in the bitter TMC-BJP fight for over a month, found pride of place at the swearing-in of West Bengal's first BJP government at the Brigade Parade Ground on Saturday. The state BJP set up 20 jhalmuri stalls across the sprawling venue in central Kolkata, while several independent vendors were also seen doing brisk business along the periphery. Scores of people attending the ceremony made a beeline for the stalls to savour the snack made of puffed rice, green chillies, and an assortment of spices. "I am loving jhalmuri more today because of our heady victory in the election," said Manjari Basu, who came from Tollygunge, in Kolkata's southern quarters, to witness the swearing-in ceremony. Manish Yadav from Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas, holding a paper packet of jhalmuri in hand, said the snack tasted sweet instead of spicy because of the BJP's momentous victory. The humble snack hogged national limeli

BJP has established system to 'steal' polls; will face anger in time: Rahul

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday launched a scathing attack on the BJP, alleging it has established a system to "steal" elections but said people have understood this and it will have to face public anger. Addressing a gathering here this evening after participating in the 'Sadbhav Yatra' of Haryana Congress leader Brijendra Singh, he accused the BJP of stealing elections in Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Maharashtra and recently in West Bengal and Assam. They delete lakhs of names and add lakhs of names. The ECI and bureaucracy are under their control, he alleged. They think that their rule will not stop, he said. "But their time is going to come. People have understood that Narendra Modi and Amit Shah are selling the country. Airport, ports, infrastructure. Nicobar Island is being sold to Adani," he alleged. Gandhi again raked up the Indo-US trade deal, reiterating it will destroy Indian farmers. Our agri sector has been opened for US farmers who can now sell their produce i

Economist Ashok Lahiri takes charge as NITI Aayog vice-chairperson

Former chief economic adviser Ashok Lahiri assumed charge as NITI Aayog vice-chairperson amid a major overhaul of the government policy think tank

PM Modi to visit Hyderabad on May 10, says Union Min G Kishan Reddy

Reddy said that the BJP is intensifying efforts to establish a double-engine government in Telangana in the 2027 Assembly elections

Somnath and Bharat's unconquerable spirit

PM Modi says Somnath symbolises India's unconquerable civilisational spirit and unity across generations

Operation Sindoor showcased growing jointness among our forces: PM

India has intensified diplomatic engagement after Operation Sindoor, focusing on counter-terrorism, trade partnerships and global support against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism

Op Sindoor showed India's firm stand against terror: PM hails armed forces

Prime Minister Modi also changed his display picture on X to "Operation Sindoor" as a tribute to the courage and valour of the Indian armed forces on the anniversary of the military operation

Walmart CEO Furner visits India, addresses Flipkart townhall, may meet PM

Walmart chief executive officer John Furner is on his first India visit as CEO and highlighted the relevance of speed and growth in this market during a Flipkart townhall

India, Vietnam elevate ties to enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership

India and Vietnam on Wednesday elevated their relations to enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership and vowed to significantly expand economic and defence ties following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vietnamese President To Lam. Modi said the two countries have a common outlook for the Indo-Pacific and both sides will continue to contribute to the rule-of-law, peace, stability, and prosperity. It is understood that China's growing military muscle-flexing figured in the delegation-level talks between the two sides. Lam, accompanied by a high-level delegation, kick started his three-day trip to India on Tuesday. It is his first state visit to the country since his election as the president this month. India and Vietnam decided to elevate ties to the level of enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership, PM Modi said in his media statement. "Vietnam is a key pillar of India's Act East Policy and Vision Ocean. In the Indo-Pacific region as well, we share a commo

India targets $25 billion trade with Vietnam by 2030, says PM Modi

Trade between India and Vietnam crossed $16 ‌billion in the ​Indian fiscal ​year that ended in March 2026

PM Modi, Vietnam President To Lam hold bilateral talks at Hyderabad House

President To Lam arrived in India on Tuesday, beginning his visit in Bodh Gaya where he offered prayers at the Mahabodhi Temple

PM hails approval of railway projects worth ₹23,437 cr covering six states

Prime Minister said that the projects would enhance connectivity, improve operational connectivity and give access to various tourist sites across the country

Trump congratulates PM Modi on 'historic, decisive' election victory

US President Donald Trump has congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his "historic and decisive" election victory, a White House spokesman said on Tuesday. "Just last month on their phone call, President Trump expressed to Prime Minister Modi his admiration and how lucky India is to have him as its leader," White House Spokesman Kush Desai told PTI. "The President congratulates Prime Minister Modi on this recent, historic, and decisive election victory," he added. On Monday, the BJP scripted history by securing more than two-thirds majority in the West Bengal assembly polls, ending the 15-year rule of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The party also retained Assam for a third term.

BJP's West Bengal win: L&T, Bandhan Bank among others may gain, say experts

The BJP's victory in West Bengal, wrote analysts at Nomura in a note, could lead to expectations of improved governance, ease of doing business and enhanced infrastructure spending.

'Lotus blooms in West Bengal': PM Modi hails BJP's win in TMC bastion

Counting trends showed the BJP racing past the majority mark in the 294-member Assembly, signalling the end of the 15-year rule of the Trinamool Congress

BJP win may revive corporate interest in WB; realty may see achhe din: Analysts

A BJP win in West Bengal, said G Chokkalingam, founder and head of research at Equinomics, could see economic growth-related initiatives. More corporate capital, he said could find its way into WB.

A high-wire diplomacy month for India amid packed global engagements

The marquee engagement will be Prime Minister Narendra Modi's four-nation Europe tour, which includes the India-Nordic Summit and a brief stop in the United Arab Emirates