In his first public remarks after BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari became the chief minister of West Bengal, former Union minister and Suvendu’s father Sisir Adhikari said the family was “very happy” and described his son as someone who had been politically active since his college days. Speaking exclusively to CNN-News18, Sisir Adhikari praised Suvendu’s political rise and expressed confidence that he would emerge as a successful leader in the state. “He is the son of our house,” the veteran politician said while reacting to Suvendu taking oath as West Bengal chief minister after the BJP’s historic victory in the 2026 Assembly elections. Sisir Adhikari, who served as a three-term MP and Union Minister of State for Rural Development during the UPA-2 government, said Suvendu had shown political interest from an early age. The senior Adhikari also outlined what he believed should be the BJP government’s immediate priorities in West Bengal. “First priority of BJP should be to fulfil the charter,” he said. Taking a strong stand on the issue of illegal immigration, Sisir Adhikari said, “Illegal migrants should be thrown out from Bengal.” He added that “people with nationalist idea should be in Bengal.” Launching a sharp attack on former chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Sisir Adhikari said: “Mamata doesn’t know the ABCD of politics.” He also expressed confidence in the BJP’s central leadership and its role in shaping the future of the state. “PM Modi and Home Minister will guide West Bengal and Bengal will be Sonar Bangla,” he said. Sisir Adhikari added that the entire family was overjoyed after Suvendu Adhikari’s elevation as chief minister. “We all are very happy when Suvendu became CM,” he said. The BJP scripted history in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections by ending the Trinamool Congress’s 15-year rule in the state. Suvendu Adhikari, who had defeated Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram in 2021, once again emerged at the centre of Bengal politics in 2026 by defeating her in Bhabanipur as the BJP swept to power in the state. He took oath as chief minister on Saturday. Hours before taking oath as chief minister, Suvendu Adhikari signalled what he described as a political reset in West Bengal and declared the beginning of a “Sonar Bangla” era under the BJP’s first government in the state since Independence. In a post on X, Adhikari described the day as a “historic dawn” for West Bengal as he welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kolkata for the swearing-in ceremony. Adhikari said the BJP’s rise to power marked “the end of decades of misrule” and the beginning of a “Double Engine” phase focused on development, peace and prosperity in coordination with the Centre. He added that the “era of Sonar Bangla officially begins.” Along with Adhikari, senior BJP leaders Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Ashok Kirtania, Kshudiram Tudu and Nishit Pramanik were sworn in as ministers in the new West Bengal cabinet at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Nitin Gadkari, along with chief ministers of NDA-ruled states, were present at the ceremony. The swearing-in ceremony of Adhikari coincided with the birth anniversary of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. After the swearing-in, Prime Minister Modi greeted West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and members of the newly sworn-in government.