NEW DELHI: Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari was formally elected as the leader of the BJP legislature party in West Bengal on Friday, paving the way for him to become the state's first chief minister from the party. The election took place during a meeting of the BJP legislature party in Kolkata, attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was appointed as the central observer for the process.
Historic Victory for BJP
The BJP scripted a historic victory in the recently concluded assembly elections, ending the 15-year rule of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and dealing a significant setback to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Adhikari emerged as the frontrunner for the top post after securing victories from two key constituencies: Nandigram and Bhabanipur. His win in Bhabanipur, considered a TMC stronghold, was seen as a major symbolic breakthrough.
Adhikari's Political Journey
Once among Banerjee's closest associates and a key architect of the TMC's rural expansion, Adhikari joined the BJP in December 2020. Since then, he has become the party's most aggressive face in Bengal politics, known for his organisational reach and sustained campaign against the TMC. His electoral performance strengthened his claim for the chief ministerial post. Other names discussed before the meeting included state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya and former Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta.
Swearing-In Ceremony Scheduled
The swearing-in ceremony of West Bengal's first BJP government is scheduled for May 9 at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, BJP president Nitin Nabin, and chief ministers of NDA-ruled states are expected to attend the event.
