In a dramatic visual shift reflecting the change of guard in West Bengal, the historic Writers’ Building and the Legislative Assembly have been illuminated with vibrant saffron lights. Starting from Friday, May 8, 2026, the orange hues replaced the blue-and-white lighting scheme that had dominated state installations for the past 15 years under the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) administration. This transformation coincides with the inaugural days of the first-ever BJP government in the state, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.
The 240-year-old Writers’ Building, which served as the state secretariat for over two centuries before being vacated for renovation in 2013, was decked with thousands of saffron rice bulbs. While the new government has begun its initial work from Nabanna, where the first Cabinet meeting was held on Monday, May 11, the BJP has announced its long-term plan to return the state’s seat of power to the Writers’ Building. Currently, at least 28 rooms in the historic structure are being refurbished for the new Chief Minister and Cabinet members.
The West Bengal Legislative Assembly has also seen a total makeover, with its halls and facade decorated in saffron lights since Tuesday, May 12. This change took place as the Pro-tem Speaker, Tapas Roy, was sworn in by Governor R.N. Ravi. Other major landmarks, including the Kolkata Collectorate, Akashvani Bhavan, and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) headquarters, have similarly adopted the new lighting scheme to mark the beginning of what the new administration calls a “double-engine era of development”.
