Suvendu Adhikari Elected as Leader of West Bengal BJP Legislative Party
Suvendu Adhikari has been elected as the leader of the West Bengal BJP legislative party, positioning him to become the state's next Chief Minister. His oath-taking ceremony is set for May 9, with notable political figures expected to attend. Adhikari's political journey has seen him transition from a trusted aide of Mamata Banerjee to a key player in the BJP's campaign against her. His recent electoral victories in Nandigram and Bhabanipur highlight his growing influence in West Bengal politics. Discover more about his remarkable rise and future plans.
May 8, 2026, 16:56 IST
Suvendu Adhikari's Path to Chief Ministership
On Friday, Suvendu Adhikari, a prominent leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was elected as the leader of the party's legislative assembly, paving the way for him to become the next Chief Minister of West Bengal. This announcement followed a significant meeting of the newly elected BJP legislators in Kolkata, attended by key figures including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Chandra Majhi, and the head of the party's Bengal unit, Samik Bhattacharya.
Adhikari's oath-taking ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, May 9, at 11 AM at the Parade Ground in Kolkata. The event will see the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah, various central ministers, and Chief Ministers from several states governed by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Adhikari's rise in Bengal politics has been noteworthy; he was once a trusted aide of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mamata Banerjee but switched to the BJP ahead of the 2021 assembly elections.
Since then, Adhikari has played a leading role in the BJP's campaign against Banerjee. In the 2021 elections, Banerjee challenged him in Nandigram, but she narrowly lost to Adhikari, who emerged as a formidable opponent. For the upcoming 2026 elections, the BJP has fielded Adhikari from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur, the latter being considered Banerjee's stronghold. However, Adhikari defeated her by a margin of over 15,000 votes. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), Adhikari secured 73,917 votes, while Banerjee received 58,812 votes.
It is noteworthy that Adhikari has served as a legislator five times. He first contested the West Bengal elections from Mugberia in 2001 but lost by nearly 15,000 votes. He was elected to the West Bengal Assembly for the first time in 2006 from Kanthi South. In 2016, he changed his constituency to Nandigram, which he successfully retained in 2021. In 2026, he contested from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur, winning in both. Additionally, Adhikari has served as a Member of Parliament twice, first being elected from Tamluk in 2009 and successfully retaining the seat in the 2014 parliamentary elections.