Suvendu Adhikari was formally named the chief minister of West Bengal on Friday, days after the BJP’s victory in the recently concluded Assembly elections.
The decision was taken at the BJP legislature party meeting in Kolkata earlier in the day, reports NDTV.
Senior leader Dilip Ghosh proposed Adhikari’s name, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who served as the central observer, and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the co-observer, were present at the meeting.
“I announce the name of Suvendu Adhikari elected as leader of West Bengal BJP Legislative Party,” Shah said at the meeting.
The development marks the end of 15 years of Trinamool Congress rule in the state. The BJP’s victory in last month’s polls ended Mamata Banerjee’s long hold on power, delivering one of the sharpest reversals in her political career, said the report.
Shah also said the “atmosphere that had been created since the Communist era was deepened by Mamata Banerjee,” adding that it had been difficult to vote freely in the state. He thanked voters for what he described as a “huge victory” for the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling it “Shyama Prasad Mukherjee’s government.”
Adhikari, who joined the BJP in December 2020 after leaving the Trinamool Congress, emerged as the party’s choice for the top post. He had earlier defeated Banerjee in Nandigram in 2021 and later won the Bhabanipur seat, her traditional stronghold, by over 15,000 votes, added the report.
Two deputy chief ministers likely
The BJP is also considering appointing two deputy chief ministers, a post that has not existed in the state for nearly two decades. The last deputy CM was CPM leader Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who served under Jyoti Basu.
Agnimitra Paul, who won from Asansol Dakshin, and Shankar Ghosh, the winner from Siliguri, are among the frontrunners. One of the posts is likely to go to a woman leader. Shah is also learnt to have held separate meetings with both leaders in Kolkata.
The swearing-in ceremony of the new government is scheduled for 11 am on Saturday at the Brigade Parade Grounds in Kolkata, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, and chief ministers from BJP-ruled states expected to attend.
Governor C.V. Ananda Bose dissolved the state assembly on Thursday, paving the way for the formation of the new government.
Adhikari’s political journey
Adhikari began his political career in the Trinamool Congress, where he played a key role in strengthening the party’s rural base. He later joined the BJP in 2020 following differences with Mamata Banerjee.
Since switching sides, he has been one of the BJP’s most prominent leaders in West Bengal, leading aggressive campaigns against the Trinamool government. Senior party leaders say his organizational reach and electoral wins against Banerjee strengthened his claim to the top post.
While names such as Samik Bhattacharya and Swapan Dasgupta were also discussed, the central leadership ultimately backed Adhikari.