Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Friday that Suvendu Adhikari will become the chief minister of West Bengal [1].
This appointment marks the first time the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will lead the state government. The transition follows a significant shift in the region's political landscape after the BJP secured a commanding majority in the assembly elections [3].
The announcement took place in Kolkata on May 8, 2026 [2]. Adhikari is scheduled to take the oath of office on May 9, 2026, at 11 a.m. [1, 2].
The BJP's victory was substantial, winning 207 out of 294 seats in the West Bengal assembly [4]. This majority provided the party the necessary mandate to form the government, and name a chief ministerial candidate to lead the state.
Shah arrived in Kolkata to coordinate with BJP MLAs and finalize the government formation process [3]. While some reports earlier indicated that the party was still deciding on a face for the role, Shah said Adhikari is the next leader [2, 3].
Adhikari's ascension comes amid a period of political transition in the state. The new administration will take over the executive functions of West Bengal starting tomorrow morning [1].
“Suvendu Adhikari will become West Bengal's first BJP Chief Minister”
The appointment of Suvendu Adhikari represents a historic shift in West Bengal's governance, ending decades of non-BJP rule. With a massive majority of 207 seats, the BJP now possesses the legislative strength to implement its platform without relying on coalition partners, fundamentally altering the power dynamics of Eastern India.
