Adhikari, once a close associate of Mamata Banerjee who later defected to the BJP, has now emerged as the party’s unanimous choice, following key electoral wins against the former CM in Nandigram and Bhabanipur.
PC Bureau
May 8, 2026: A sweeping electoral verdict in West Bengal has set the stage for a historic political transition, with the Bharatiya Janata Party moving to install Suvendu Adhikari as the state’s next Chief Minister following its decisive victory in the Assembly elections.
Suvendu Adhikari was formally named the Chief Minister of West Bengal on Friday, following the BJP’s decisive victory in the recently concluded Assembly elections.
The development brings an end to 15 years of Trinamool Congress rule in the state.
Dilip Ghosh, a senior BJP leader and former state president, proposed Adhikari’s name at the legislature party meeting held in Kolkata earlier in the day. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, appointed as the central observer, and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the co-observer, were present.
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“I announce the name of Suvendu Adhikari as the Leader of the West Bengal BJP Legislative Party,” Home Minister Amit Shah declared at the meeting.
The BJP’s victory in last month’s polls ended Mamata Banerjee’s long tenure in power, marking one of the most significant reversals in her political career.
Suvendu Adhikari – CM of West Bengal 🔥🪷 pic.twitter.com/VOWVl0xztF
— ExtraSpiceAni (@ShrivastavAni) May 8, 2026
Adhikari, who joined the BJP in December 2020 after leaving the Trinamool Congress—where he was once a close associate of Banerjee—emerged as the party’s unanimous choice. He had earlier defeated Banerjee in Nandigram in 2021 and later secured a major victory in Bhabanipur, her traditional stronghold, by over 15,000 votes.
The BJP is also weighing the appointment of two deputy chief ministers. Notably, West Bengal has not seen a deputy CM in over two decades, the last being CPM leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee under Jyoti Basu’s leadership.
Among the frontrunners for the posts—one of which is likely to go to a woman leader—are Agnimitra Paul, who won from Asansol Dakshin, and Shankar Ghosh, the Siliguri MLA. Amit Shah also held separate consultations with both leaders in Kolkata to finalise the arrangements.
The swearing-in ceremony of the new government is scheduled to be held tomorrow at the historic Brigade Parade Grounds in central Kolkata.
