New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, has named Suvendu Adhikari as the next chief minister of West Bengal after the party secured a sweeping victory in the 2026 assembly elections. The BJP won 207 of the state’s 294 seats, ending the 15-year rule of Mamata Banerjee and the All India Trinamool Congress, TMC.
Adhikari, once regarded as one of Banerjee’s closest political aides, rose through the ranks during the anti-Left movement in West Bengal. His role in the 2007 Nandigram land agitation established him as a powerful organiser with strong influence across coastal Bengal.
Born into a prominent political family in Purba Medinipur district, Adhikari began his career in the Congress before joining the TMC. His relationship with Banerjee deteriorated over time, leading to his switch to the BJP in 2020 ahead of the 2021 state elections.
His political rise gained national attention after he defeated Banerjee in Nandigram in 2021. In the latest election, he defeated her again in Bhabanipur while retaining his Nandigram seat.
Supporters describe Adhikari as an aggressive grassroots leader with strong political instincts. Critics accuse him of using divisive rhetoric. Over recent years, he faced criticism and political backlash over remarks targeting Muslims and opposition leaders. Some of those comments led to suspension proceedings and allegations of hate speech.
The transition of power comes amid reports of post-election violence. A close aide of Adhikari was recently shot dead in an attack described by BJP leaders as politically motivated.
Adhikari now faces pressure to address unemployment, attract investment and govern a deeply polarised state.
