West Bengal is set to witness a politically charged day as Suvendu Adhikari takes oath as the state’s first BJP Chief Minister at the iconic Brigade Parade Ground today. On the same day, outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is stepping out for her first public appearance since the election results, choosing to participate in a Rabindra Jayanti event near her residence in Kalighat.
According to Trinamool Congress (TMC) sources, Banerjee will pay tribute to Rabindranath Tagore while also potentially addressing the post-election scenario and outlining her party’s future course. Party insiders indicated that a local non-political organisation had initially planned the Rabindra Jayanti celebration in the area but was allegedly denied permission by the administration. As a result, the event is now expected to take place either within the courtyard of Banerjee’s residence or at a nearby open space.
Sources suggest that beyond the cultural observance, Banerjee’s participation carries a clear political message. On the day the new government assumes office, she is expected to assert her presence on the streets as Leader of the Opposition. Notably, since the declaration of results on May 4, Banerjee has refrained from public appearances, instead holding a series of internal meetings with party leaders.
Traditionally, the 25th of Boishakh—marking Tagore’s birth anniversary—has been a significant occasion in Banerjee’s calendar. During her tenure, she regularly attended the state-organised ‘Kobi Pronam’ ceremony near Rabindra Sadan.
The BJP’s decision to hold the swearing-in ceremony on this culturally significant date has added symbolic weight to the occasion. In response, Banerjee’s move to mark the day publicly is being widely interpreted as a calculated and symbolic political gesture, underscoring both cultural identity and political resistance at a pivotal moment in Bengal’s political landscape.
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