KOLKATA – In a historic political shift, Suvendu Adhikari has been formally elected as the Chief Minister of West Bengal. The announcement was made on Friday following a BJP legislature party meeting, marking the end of Mamata Banerjee’s 15-year tenure and the beginning of the first-ever BJP government in the state.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, acting as the central observer, confirmed Adhikari’s selection after his name was proposed by senior leader Dilip Ghosh.
The “Giantkiller” Ascends
Adhikari’s journey to the top post is defined by his high-stakes electoral battles against his former mentor, Mamata Banerjee.
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The Nandigram Legacy: He famously defeated Banerjee in the 2021 elections.
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The Bhabanipur Win: In the most recent polls, he captured Banerjee’s traditional stronghold of Bhabanipur by a margin of over 15,000 votes, cementing his status as the party’s most potent electoral force in Bengal.
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Roots: Formerly a key TMC strategist, Adhikari joined the BJP in 2020 and has since been the face of the party’s aggressive grassroots campaign.
New Governance Structure: Two Deputy CMs
To ensure broad representation across the state’s diverse demographics, the BJP is set to appoint two Deputy Chief Ministers—a move not seen in Bengal since the Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee era.
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Agnimitra Paul: The Asansol Dakshin winner is a top contender, likely fulfilling the party’s intent to have a woman in a senior leadership role.
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Shankar Ghosh: The Siliguri MLA is the other key candidate for the deputy post, representing North Bengal’s interests.
A “Shyama Prasad Mukherjee” Government
Home Minister Amit Shah described the victory as a tribute to the party’s ideological founder, stating, “This is Shyama Prasad Mukherjee’s government.” He credited the win to the voters’ trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a desire to move past the political atmosphere established during the Communist and TMC eras.
The Grand Swearing-In
The transition of power will be formalized tomorrow at the Brigade Parade Grounds in Kolkata. The ceremony is expected to be a massive show of strength, attended by:
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi
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Home Minister Amit Shah
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National President Nitin Nabin
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Chief Ministers from various BJP-ruled states.
With Governor RN Ravi having already dissolved the previous assembly, the stage is set for a new administrative chapter in West Bengal.
