Mandatory Vande Mataram: Suvendu Adhikari announces new rule for West Bengal schools

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced Thursday that the recital of Vande Mataram will become a compulsory requirement in all state-run and government-aided educational institutions effective May 18.

During a press briefing, Adhikari indicated that while the mandate applies to public schools, private institutions have been formally encouraged to implement the practice. A comprehensive official directive detailing the requirement is expected to be released later today.

"Vande Mataram will be mandatory in all government and government-aided schools from Monday. In private schools, we have appealed for its inclusion. A formal notice in this regard will be issued today," Adhikari stated.

Speaker Nomination and Legislative Tradition

The Chief Minister also addressed the upcoming election for the Speaker of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, putting forward the name of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Rathindra Bose. Adhikari urged all political factions to adhere to parliamentary custom by supporting a consensus candidate.

Characterising Bose as a "dedicated party worker" and a professional Chartered Accountant, Adhikari emphasised that Bose’s administrative acumen and organisational history make him uniquely qualified for the post.

"He never applied for any post such as MLA, Minister or Speaker. The party has recognised his dedication. He is a Chartered Accountant and has the necessary capability to handle this responsibility. We seek cooperation from all sides for his leadership," the Chief Minister noted.

Adhikari made a specific appeal to the Opposition to maintain the state’s historical precedent of electing a Speaker without a contest.

"The Speaker's election has traditionally been unanimous in West Bengal. I hope the Opposition will continue this tradition," he added.

The legislative vote is slated to take place on Friday at 11 a.m.

Political Context and Election Results

Bose, who represents the Cooch Behar Dakshin constituency, entered the assembly after a decisive electoral victory in which he defeated his Trinamool Congress (TMC) opponent by a margin exceeding 23,000 votes.

The 2026 Assembly election results represented a seismic shift in the state's political landscape. The BJP secured a significant majority, claiming 207 seats in the 294-member house—a substantial increase from the 77 seats the party held previously. The TMC, which dominated the prior assembly with 212 seats, saw its presence reduced to 80 seats.

Following this electoral mandate, Suvendu Adhikari was inaugurated as the ninth Chief Minister of West Bengal, ushering in a new era for the state administration.

With inputs from ANI