The swearing-in ceremony of the new BJP government will be held at Brigade Parade Ground on May 9
In this image posted on May 8, 2026, Union Home Minister Amit Shah felicitates West Bengal chief minister-designate Suvendu Adhikari after the BJP legislature party meeting, in Kolkata. Adhikari was on Friday elected the leader of the BJP legislature party in the state, paving the way for him to become the first BJP chief minister in the state. (@AmitShah/X via PTI Photo)
Kolkata: Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday announced BJP heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari as the chief minister of the first BJP government in West Bengal after his victory over Trinamul Congress supremo and three-time Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhowanipore, while also retaining his Nandigram seat in the Assembly elections.
Shah, who arrived in Kolkata in the morning and offered prayers at the Dakshineswar Kali Temple, later met all 207 newly elected BJP legislators at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in New Town as the party’s central observer to decide the BJP Legislature Party leader.
Announcing the decision, Shah said all proposals supported Adhikari’s name and no alternative candidate was suggested. He then formally declared Adhikari as the BJP Legislature Party leader and greeted him as the chief minister-designate.
In the evening, Adhikari and other BJP legislators met Governor R.N. Ravi at Lok Bhavan to stake claim to form the new government.
Addressing party leaders later, Shah said the BJP’s dream of ruling “Ang, Bang, Kaling” had become a reality and promised an end to infiltration and cattle smuggling once border fencing in the state was completed. He also assured women’s safety and pledged that there would be no politicisation of the administration or criminalisation of politics under the BJP government.
Praising Adhikari, Shah described him as a fighter who understood both the administration and the Trinamul Congress from within. He said a political change in West Bengal was necessary not only for the state but also for eastern India from the perspectives of national security, growth and development.
Shah alleged that under Banerjee’s rule, the administration had become politicised and politics criminalised, resulting in poor governance and lack of development. He claimed that corruption, syndicate operations and the “cut-money” culture would end within months after the new government took office.
In his speech, Adhikari said the new government would reopen files related to various crimes and offences allegedly committed during the previous regime and initiate judicial commission probes. He also outlined his government’s “talk less, work more” approach and said the BJP would work collectively under the philosophy of “we” instead of “I”.
Adhikari further set a target of increasing the BJP’s vote share to 60 per cent from the 46 per cent secured in the election.
Shah is expected to stay in Kolkata overnight to supervise preparations for the swearing-in ceremony scheduled at the Brigade Parade Ground on Saturday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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