BJP Appoints Amit Shah as Observer for West Bengal Chief Minister Election
The Bharatiya Janata Party has appointed Amit Shah as the central observer for the upcoming chief minister election in West Bengal, with Mohan Chandra Manjhi as co-observer. The swearing-in ceremony is set for May 9, coinciding with Rabindranath Tagore's birth anniversary. Following a significant electoral victory, the party is considering Suvendu Adhikari as a leading candidate, especially after his recent win against Mamata Banerjee. Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar commented on the contrasting electoral outcomes in West Bengal and Kerala, emphasizing the BJP's commitment to national interests. This strategic move signals the party's focus on consolidating power in the state.
May 5, 2026, 14:43 IST
BJP Leadership Changes in West Bengal
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has designated Amit Shah as the central observer and Mohan Chandra Manjhi as the co-observer for the upcoming chief minister election in West Bengal. The party's parliamentary board made this announcement on Tuesday, appointing Shah, who serves as the Union Home and Cooperation Minister, to oversee the election process. Manjhi, the Chief Minister of Odisha, will assist him in this role. The swearing-in ceremony for the new chief minister is scheduled for May 9, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore.
On Tuesday, BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya confirmed that the swearing-in ceremony for the chief minister of West Bengal will take place on May 9. Following a record-breaking victory in the state, the BJP leadership is now faced with the decision of selecting a candidate for the chief minister position. Suvendu Adhikari, who defeated Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in her home constituency of Bhabanipur, is currently leading the race. This isn't the first time Adhikari has triumphed over Banerjee; he previously won the Nandigram seat by a margin of 1,956 votes in 2021. According to a senior BJP official, the party may reward him with the chief minister position.
On April 2, when Adhikari filed his nomination from the Bhabanipur seat in Kolkata, he was accompanied by Amit Shah, indicating strong support from the party's top leadership.
Regarding the BJP's victory in West Bengal, Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar remarked that both West Bengal and Kerala were overseen by the same election commission. While democracy prevailed in Kerala, it became a challenge in Bengal. Regardless of which side you choose, comments made by Abhishek Banerjee about Home Minister Amit Shah are insignificant. Let the government be formed and the chief minister's swearing-in ceremony take place, then the chief minister will decide whom to prioritize. However, as a party worker, I assert that national interest is the BJP's top priority.