Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday officially announced Suvendu Adhikari as the next Chief Minister of West Bengal following a meeting with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) 207 newly elected Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs).
Adhikari was unanimously elected as the leader of the BJP legislative party during a meeting held at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in New Town, reports Anandabazar Patrika.
Shah, who served as the chief observer alongside assistant observer and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, stated that the selection process was completed after receiving eight proposals, all of which named Adhikari.
No second name was proposed during the session.
Following the announcement, Adhikari is expected to meet Governor RN Ravi at Loke Bhavan to formally stake his claim to form the government.
Shah mentioned that with this victory, a government following the ideals of Syama Prasad Mookerjee has been established in Mookerjee’s birthplace, stretching “from Gangotri to Gangasagar.”
Swearing-in ceremony
The new West Bengal government is scheduled to take the oath of office on Saturday at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the ceremony.
Shah arrived in the city on Friday morning and offered prayers at the Dakshineswar Temple ahead of the legislative meeting.
The BJP secured a significant majority in the recent elections, winning 207 out of the 293 seats for which results were declared on 4 May. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) won 80 seats, while the Left, Congress, and other parties secured six.
A re-poll for the Falta constituency in South 24 Parganas is scheduled for 21 May.
Adhikari’s ascent to the chief ministership follows his dual electoral victories over TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee. After defeating her in Nandigram in 2021, he challenged her in her own constituency of Bhawanipur this time, winning by a margin of over 15,000 votes.
Additionally, he defeated TMC candidate Pabitro Kar in Nandigram by approximately 10,000 votes.
Constitutional impasse
The transition of power occurs amidst an unprecedented political situation. Although the term of the 17th Assembly ended on 7 May and Governor RN Ravi subsequently dissolved the House, Mamata Banerjee has refused to resign.
The outgoing chief minister has alleged that the election was “looted” and has vowed to pursue a legal battle.
As the governor did not appoint her as a caretaker chief minister following the dissolution of the Assembly, the administration of the state effectively rests with the governor until the new government is sworn in on Saturday.
Local observers noted that while a brief period of President’s Rule could have been imposed, the state has remained under the governor’s direct oversight since Thursday evening.
