West Bengal

Timeline

1. 18 May2026
   States

   West Bengal scraps religion-based welfare categories; Karnataka reverses 2022 hijab ban¹²³⁴

   In mid-May 2026 West Bengal's new BJP government ended religion-based welfare schemes and scrapped the state OBC list, while Karnataka withdrew the 2022 hijab ban order on 13 May.

   • West Bengal cabinet (Monday 18 May 2026) decided to end state welfare schemes categorised by religion, running only to the end of May
   • It also scrapped the existing state OBC list, in line with the Calcutta High Court ruling, and will set up a panel to decide OBC quota eligibility; the struck-down list had 113 sub-groups, 77 of them Muslim
   • Karnataka withdrew its 2022 hijab ban order on 13 May 2026; a new School Education order permits limited faith-based symbols with the uniform
2. 9 May2026
   Polity

   Suvendu Adhikari sworn in as West Bengal's first BJP chief minister⁵⁶⁷⁸

   Suvendu Adhikari took oath as West Bengal's first BJP chief minister on 9 May at Brigade Parade Ground, Kolkata, with PM Modi and Amit Shah present, after the BJP's win ended 15 years of Trinamool rule.

   • Sworn in 9 May 2026 at Brigade Parade Ground, Kolkata
   • Oath administered by Governor R.N. Ravi
   • First BJP chief minister of West Bengal; BJP won 207 of 294 seats
   • PM Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah attended
   • Five BJP legislators (including Dilip Ghosh and Agnimitra Paul) sworn in as ministers the same day

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Sources

1. Madhyamam
2. LiveLaw
3. The Wire
4. The News Minute
5. The Quint
6. The Tribune
7. The Week
8. The Statesman