Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency: The new government in West Bengal has steered state politics in a fresh direction by taking major decisions regarding the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and anti-conversion laws. Following the change of power, the state's political landscape appears to be rapidly shifting course. In the assembly elections held in April, the electorate did not merely change the government; they gave a new turn to the state's political trajectory. This marked the end of the Trinamool Congress era—led by Mamata Banerjee, who had held power for 15 consecutive years—and heralded the beginning of a new political order rooted in nationalism.
**Rapid Implementation of Decisions**
On May 9, Suvendu Adhikari took the oath as Chief Minister, assuming leadership of the BJP's first government in the state. Subsequently, the administration began swiftly implementing major decisions across sectors such as governance, law and order, public welfare, and administrative management. **Rapidly Changing Political Equations**
For nearly 15 years, Mamata Banerjee remained the focal point of Bengal's politics. Her influence was palpable everywhere—from the state secretariat, Nabanna, to local neighborhoods, government schemes, Puja pandals, and the local administration. However, the transfer of power rapidly altered political equations, and a new power center led by the BJP has now been established in the state. **Initiation of the UCC Process**
The most significant changes under the new government are visible in the issues the BJP had prominently highlighted during its election campaign. The government has initiated the legislative process to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in West Bengal. The stated objective is to enforce uniform laws for all communities regarding matters such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance. **Necessity of Curbing Conversions**
Furthermore, the government has announced plans to introduce an anti-conversion law. It maintains that such legislation is essential to prevent religious conversions carried out through force or coercion. Conversely, the opposition alleges that such laws violate the right to religious freedom guaranteed to citizens under Article 25 of the Constitution.
These major developments in West Bengal over the span of just two months have sparked a fresh debate within the state's political arena. Political analysts believe that, following the Mamata era, Bengal has now entered a new ideological and administrative phase.