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Published : 08 May 2026, 06:11 PM
After toppling the 15-year rule of Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress, only one name seemed to resonate for the post of the next chief minister of West Bengal – Suvendu Adhikari.
Now India’s ruling BJP has officially dubbed him its candidate for the post.
On Friday, after meeting with the 207 BJP candidates who won seats in the legislative assembly, Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah announced Suvendu as its leader. The leader of the majority party also becomes the chief minister of the state.
Anandabazar reported that the new West Bengal government will be sworn in under the leadership of Suvendu at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata on Saturday.
After the meeting with the members of the legislative assembly, Amit Shah said: "The process of electing the parliamentary party leader has been completed. Eight proposals were submitted. All the proposals carried a single name. Sufficient time was given for a second name to be submitted, but none came. Therefore, I am declaring Suvendu Adhikari the chief minister of West Bengal."
Besides Suvendu, names of Swapan Dasgupta, considered the BJP’s ideological leader, state party president Shamik Dasgupta, woman leader Agnimitra Pal, and several others were also discussed.
Leaving everyone behind, 55-year-old Suvendu is set to become the head of the state.
For the past five years, opposition leader Suvendu has been the main face of the BJP’s movement against the Mamata government in the assembly.
He has frequently drawn attention for his “stirring” remarks on issues such as terrorism, “infiltration”, illegal immigrants, and corruption in the state.
In the Apr 23 and Apr 29 polls, Suvendu contested from Nandigram, known for the 2007 farmer “revolt”, and Bhavanipur, considered Mamata’s stronghold.
He won both seats, defeating Mamata by more than 15,000 votes.
Suvendu joined the party only five and a half years ago. Before that, he was regarded as a “confidant” of Mamata.
At the end of 2020, he left the TMC and the ministry to join the BJP.
According to a BBC report, Suvendu was viewed as “less acceptable” to older BJP leaders because of his TMC background and close ties with Mamata.
Moreover, he comes from an old Congress political family and had no longstanding ties with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which is close to the BJP.
Anandabazar Patrika reported a speculation over who would become chief minister of a BJP government despite Suvendu’s major electoral success, partly because of the party’s past approach.
“Someone who was not even thought of by anyone has been elected as the leader of the ruling party's legislative party. There was speculation whether something similar would be done in West Bengal as well.
“However, unlike other states, there was no opportunity to surprise the chief minister of West Bengal. By defeating Mamata in Bhavanipur, Suvendu had strengthened his claim to the post of chief minister.
“After such a big victory in the elections, the BJP central leadership did not take that risk again.”
Although the BJP selected Suvendu as chief minister, it has not said whether the government will have a deputy chief minister, a post absent in West Bengal for two decades.
NDTV reported the state could have two deputy chief ministers this time, one of whom may be a woman leader.
BJP leader Agnimitra, who won from Asansol South, is considered a frontrunner and could become the state’s first woman deputy chief minister.
The second deputy chief minister may come from North Bengal. There is speculation that Siliguri winner Shankar Ghosh could be given the post.
Results for 293 of the 294 West Bengal Assembly seats were declared on May 4, with the BJP winning 207 seats and securing an absolute majority.
The Trinamool Congress won 80 seats, while the Left, Congress and other parties secured 6 seats. A by-election in the Falta constituency of South 24 Parganas will be held on May 21.
