After registering a landslide victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the West Bengal state elections 2026, Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition, is poised to become the next Chief Minister (CM) of West Bengal.
On May 8, Adhikari is scheduled to be formally elected as the leader of the BJP Legislative Party.
Adhikari the “Giant slaer”
Suvendu Adhikari defeated the incumbent CM Mamata Bannerjee in her own turf of Bhabanipur, a key stronghold of her party Trinamool Congress (TMC). He won by a margin of 15,000 votes.
Lauding the people of Bhabanipur, Home Minister Amit Shah stated on ‘X’, “Hats off to the people of Bhabanipur. Their mandate has made it clear what fate awaits an anarchic ruler.”
Adhikari also won the Nandigram constituency by nearly 10,000 votes. In 2021 legislative assembly elections too, Adhikari had defeated Mamata Bannerjee in Nandigram.
Historic verdict in West Bengal
BJP will form the government in West Bengal for the first time after its clean sweep in the recently held state elections.
BJP has secured more than 200 seats, much higher than the magic number of 148 (majority mark).
The state went to polls in 2 phases on April 23 and 29 respectively, with final results declared on May 4.
It recorded a combined voter turnout of 92.47% in both phases, the highest poll participation since Independence.
This marks the end of the 15-year reign of Mamata Bannerjee-led TMC.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed this spectacular mandate, stating on ‘X’, “The 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections will be remembered forever. People’s power has prevailed and BJP’s politics of good governance has triumphed. I bow to each and every person of West Bengal.”
