Rathindra Bose Elected as New Speaker of West Bengal Assembly
Rathindra Bose Takes the Helm as Speaker
On Friday, Rathindra Bose, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) representing the Cooch Behar South constituency, was elected as the new Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly. Following his victory, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari escorted Bose to the Speaker's chair, adhering to the traditions of the assembly. During the announcement of Bose's nomination for the Speaker position on Thursday, Chief Minister Adhikari expressed confidence in Bose's candidacy, stating, 'We have nominated Mr. Rathindra Bose as our candidate for the honorable Speaker of the 18th West Bengal Assembly. I hope everyone will support his nomination, and he will be elected unanimously.'
Professional Background and Expectations
Highlighting Bose's professional background and dedication, Adhikari noted that he is a committed party worker and a chartered accountant by profession. He brings both administrative insight and organizational experience to this role. The Chief Minister further remarked, 'He has never applied for any position such as MLA, minister, or Speaker. The party has recognized his dedication. As a chartered accountant, he possesses the necessary capabilities to take on this responsibility. We seek cooperation from all sides for his leadership.'
Call for Unopposed Election
Adhikari urged the opposition to uphold parliamentary traditions by allowing an unopposed election for the Speaker, noting that historically, the election of the Speaker in West Bengal has been by consensus. He expressed hope that the opposition would continue this tradition. Bose secured his seat by defeating the Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate, Abhijit De Bhowmik, by a margin of 23,284 votes (11.4 percent). He will succeed BJP MLA Tapas Roy, who recently took the oath as the acting Speaker of the West Bengal Assembly.
BJP's Significant Victory in 2026 Elections
In the 2026 assembly elections, the BJP achieved a significant mandate, winning 207 out of 294 seats, a remarkable increase from the previous 77 seats. The Trinamool Congress (TMC), which held 212 seats prior, was reduced to 80 seats, marking the end of its 15-year rule in the state. The Congress party managed to secure only two seats.