West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari resigned from his Nandigram Assembly seat on Friday to retain his seat in Bhabanipur.
The move resolves a legal requirement for the Chief Minister, who won two separate constituencies in the 2026 elections [2]. Under Assembly rules, a candidate who wins multiple seats must resign from all but one within 14 days [1].
Adhikari had secured victories in both Nandigram and Bhabanipur during the state polls [3]. By submitting his resignation for the Nandigram seat, he ensures his continued legal standing as a member of the legislative body, and he maintains his leadership role in the state government.
The decision to keep Bhabanipur over Nandigram follows a period of deliberation after the 2026 results were finalized [3]. The resignation was submitted officially to comply with the mandatory timeframe prescribed by the Assembly [1].
This administrative step is a standard procedure in Indian state elections when a candidate contests and wins in multiple districts. The vacancy created in Nandigram will now necessitate a by-election to fill the seat for the remainder of the term.
“Suvendu Adhikari resigned from his Nandigram Assembly seat on Friday to retain his seat in Bhabanipur.”
This resignation is a procedural necessity rather than a political shift. By choosing Bhabanipur, the Chief Minister secures his legislative position while triggering a by-election in Nandigram, which may become a high-stakes political battleground for opposing parties to test their strength mid-term.
