India, May 9 -- Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday took oath as the first BJP chief minister of West Bengal, marking a major political turning point in the state after decades of resistance to saffron politics.

R N Ravi administered the oath of office and secrecy to Adhikari at a grand ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers, chief ministers of NDA-ruled states and senior BJP leaders.

Soon after Adhikari's swearing-in, senior BJP leader Dilip Ghosh took oath as a minister in the new cabinet. BJP MLAs Agnimitra Paul, Ashok Kirtania, Nisith Pramanik and Kshudiram Tudu were also sworn in as ministers.

The swearing-in ceremony was held at Brigade Parade Ground, a venue historically associated with massive Left rallies ...