Suvendu Adhikari emerges as Bengal BJP’s chief minister face
Adhikari rose politically through TMC before joining BJP
A New Chapter: Suvendu Adhikari Takes the Helm in West Bengal
The political landscape of West Bengal has fundamentally shifted. On Saturday, May 9, 2026, Suvendu Adhikari officially took the oath as the first Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Minister of West Bengal, ending the 15-year reign of Mamata Banerjee’s All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). Held at the iconic Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata, the high-security ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking a monumental turning point for the state.
This historic change follows the 2026 Assembly elections, where the BJP secured a decisive majority, winning over 200 seats. Perhaps the most symbolic victory of the campaign was Adhikari defeating Mamata Banerjee in her own stronghold, the Bhabanipur constituency, by over 15,000 votes. It was a rare feat; not since 1967 had an incumbent Chief Minister lost their own seat while running in a dual-constituency battle. The result has left the TMC reeling and signals a major realignment of power in eastern India.
Adhikari’s journey to the Chief Minister’s chair is nothing short of a political odyssey. He began his career as a grassroots politician, cutting his teeth as a Congress councillor in the Kanthi Municipality in 1995. In 1998, he was among the first wave of leaders to join Mamata Banerjee in founding the TMC, working side-by-side with her for years. It was Adhikari who famously led the 2007 anti-land acquisition movement in Nandigram, a campaign that catapulted Banerjee from an opposition figure to the mainstream of state power.
For years, Adhikari served as one of the TMC’s most effective organizers, expanding the party’s footprint into districts like Paschim Medinipur, Purulia, and Bankura. He served as an MP from Tamluk, winning by a staggering 1.7 lakh votes, and later became the Minister of Transport in Banerjee’s 2016 cabinet. However, the relationship began to fray around 2020, with rifts emerging over the party’s direction and the rising influence of Banerjee’s nephew, Abhishek. Adhikari eventually walked away, famously remarking, “I did not drop in using a parachute nor did I take a lift. I took the stairs, step by step”.
Since joining the BJP, Adhikari has pivoted toward a more assertive political identity, consistently championing issues of national security and border integrity. He has advocated for stricter measures against illegal infiltration, often criticizing the previous government’s policies on migration and voter rolls. His rhetoric has frequently targeted the TMC’s perceived policies, and following his recent electoral victory, he vowed to focus his governance on the Hindu constituency that supported his candidacy, explicitly distinguishing his priorities.
The transition to a BJP government comes at a time of deep political polarization in the state. As Adhikari takes charge, the focus for his administration is expected to shift toward industrial growth, infrastructure, and addressing the allegations of law and order concerns raised during the election cycle. For the people of West Bengal, the change represents more than just a new leader; it is an experiment with a completely new governing philosophy in a state that has long been a bastion of anti-BJP sentiment.
With the swearing-in now complete, the eyes of the nation remain fixed on Kolkata. Adhikari now faces the challenging task of governing a state accustomed to a very different brand of politics, all while managing the high expectations of a BJP leadership that views this victory as a national breakthrough. Whether this change brings the long-discussed “Parivartan” — or change — to the lives of ordinary citizens remains the central question for the months ahead.