Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Kolkata on Friday to chair a BJP legislature party meeting to elect the party's leader [1].

The meeting paves the way for Suvendu Adhikari to become the first chief minister of West Bengal from the Bharatiya Janata Party. This transition marks a historic political shift in a state that has long been a stronghold for other political entities.

Shah's arrival follows the dissolution of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly on May 7, 2026 [2]. The party's dominance in the region was solidified after the BJP won 207 seats in the 294-member assembly [2].

During the proceedings, Shah emphasized the party's commitment to the region. "Sonar Bangla is BJP's responsibility," Shah said [1].

The legislature party meeting on May 8, 2026, serves as the formal mechanism to elect the leader who will then be appointed as chief minister [1]. Adhikari is expected to take the oath of office in a grand ceremony tomorrow [1].

This political realignment comes after a decisive electoral victory that granted the BJP a significant majority in the state house [2]. The meeting in Kolkata is the final step in the administrative process to transfer power to the new leadership.

“"Sonar Bangla is BJP's responsibility"”

The appointment of Suvendu Adhikari as chief minister represents a fundamental shift in West Bengal's governance. By securing 207 out of 294 seats, the BJP has moved from an opposition role to a dominant majority, ending decades of previous political hegemony in the state and consolidating the party's influence in eastern India.