The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is preparing to form its first government in West Bengal after recent state elections [1].
This transition marks a significant political shift in a state long dominated by the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). The move represents the BJP's effort to expand its administrative control over eastern India.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Kolkata on May 8, 2026 [2], to finalize the selection of the party's chief minister candidate. While the party has not officially named the leader, Suvendu Adhikari is mentioned as the front-runner for the position [1].
BJP officials said the success was due to strong anti-incumbency sentiment against the previous administration. Some party representatives said the TMC was effectively wiped out in the contest [3].
However, the exact path to a majority remains a point of contention among reports. The BJP won at least 124 seats in the 294-member West Bengal Legislative Assembly [4]. This number falls short of the 148 seats required for an absolute majority in the house [4].
Despite the seat count, party leadership remains confident in its ability to form a government [3]. Shah's visit to Kolkata is intended to resolve the leadership structure and coordinate the transition of power as the party moves to take control of the state [2].
“The BJP is preparing to form its first government in West Bengal”
The BJP's attempt to form a government with 124 seats indicates a strategy to either build a coalition or leverage the fragmented nature of the opposition to reach the 148-seat majority threshold. If successful, this would break the long-standing hold of the TMC and consolidate the BJP's influence in a key strategic state.
