Suvendu Adhikari will be the first BJP CM of West Bengal (Img: Internet)
Kolkata: A major political development has emerged from West Bengal as the BJP has finalised the name of Suvendu Adhikari for the post of Chief Minister during the party’s legislature meeting.
The decision was reportedly taken in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Kolkata. Following the party’s massive victory in the Assembly elections, Bengal is now set to get its first BJP Chief Minister in the form of Suvendu Adhikari.
Preparations are in full swing for the swearing-in ceremony, which is likely to take place tomorrow at 11 AM at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata. The BJP is planning a grand event, with several Chief Ministers from BJP-ruled states, senior party leaders, and top central ministers expected to attend.
Suvendu Adhikari has been announced as next Chief Minister Of West Bengal#SuvenduAdhikari #WestBengal #BengalCM pic.twitter.com/CBetNYSXDW
— Dynamite News (@DynamiteNews_) May 8, 2026
Adhikari's rise in Bengal politics carries layers of political irony. He was once a trusted aide of Banerjee, helping her oust the Left in 2011; however, he joined the BJP before the 2021 elections, which many considered as a gamble. "I was part of the 2011 poribartan', and now I am part of the real change," Adhikari had said during the campaigning for this year's elections.
There are other leaders such as Dilip Ghosh, Samik Bhattacharya, Agnimitra Paul and Roopa Ganguly who are in the fray to be appointed as the next chief minister, but Adhikari remains the frontrunner for the position.
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As the Bharatiya Janata Party prepares to form its first government in West Bengal, discussions over the woman Deputy Chief Minister’s post have intensified. Several senior women leaders are reportedly being considered by the party leadership for the key role.
Former fashion designer-turned-politician Agnimitra Paul is being seen as one of the strongest contenders for the woman Deputy CM post. She has emerged as a prominent BJP face in Bengal politics over the past few years.
Reports suggest that multiple criminal cases have been registered against her, including allegations related to unlawful assembly, protests and disturbance of public order. However, she has not been convicted in any case so far.
Former actress and BJP leader Locket Chatterjee is also among the frontrunners. She served as Member of Parliament from the Hooghly Lok Sabha constituency between 2019 and 2024 and has earlier held responsibilities as president of BJP Mahila Morcha in Bengal and state general secretary.
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Before joining the BJP, she was associated with the Trinamool Congress. Party insiders believe her vocal stand on women’s issues and organisational experience make her a strong candidate for the post.
Senior BJP leader and former Rajya Sabha MP Roopa Ganguly is another major name under consideration. Apart from her long-standing contribution to the entertainment industry, she has remained an influential political figure in Bengal.
She recently won the Sonarpur Dakshin Assembly seat by a margin of over 35,000 votes against the Trinamool Congress candidate, further strengthening her position within the party.
