Suvendu Adhikari to Become West Bengal Chief Minister

Suvendu Adhikari of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to become the next chief minister of West Bengal. The BJP announced on Friday that he would be sworn in on Saturday following the party's victory in the state assembly elections. The BJP secured 207 of the state's 294 assembly seats in Monday's vote counting.

The result ends the 15-year rule of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) led by outgoing chief minister Mamata Banerjee and marks the first time the BJP has gained power in the state. Adhikari was once a close aide to Banerjee until their falling out several years ago.

He had helped organize protests in Nandigram in 2007 against a proposed land acquisition project, which weakened the then-ruling Left Front government and contributed to the TMC's rise to power in 2011. Born in 1970 in Purba Medinipur district into a prominent political family, Adhikari began his career with the Congress party before joining the TMC.

His father Sisir Adhikari was a veteran member of parliament, and several relatives have held elected office in coastal areas of the state. In 2016, Adhikari was embroiled in a controversy involving a sting operation in which several TMC leaders were filmed allegedly accepting cash.

Videos appeared to show him taking money in his office, though he denied the allegations and questioned the authenticity of the footage. Adhikari defected to the BJP in 2020 ahead of the 2021 state election. Contesting from Nandigram, he defeated Banerjee in that constituency.

The BJP lost the overall election at the time, but his win raised his profile within the party. In the 2026 election, the BJP not only won a majority but also defeated Banerjee in her stronghold of Bhabanipur. Adhikari contested against her there while retaining his Nandigram seat.