West Bengal is set to enter a new political chapter after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the 2026 Assembly elections and ended Mamata Banerjee’s 15-year rule in the state. The Bengal Legislative Assembly was officially dissolved on May 7 after completing its five-year term, clearing the way for the BJP to form the government for the first time in the state.
The BJP won 207 seats in the 294-member Assembly, giving the party a strong majority. The victory marked a major political change in West Bengal, where the Trinamool Congress (TMC) had remained in power since 2011 under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee.
Now, attention has shifted to one important question — who will become the next chief minister of West Bengal?
At present, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari is seen as the strongest candidate for the top post. Once a close ally of Mamata Banerjee in the TMC, Adhikari later joined the BJP and became one of the party’s biggest leaders in Bengal.
His political importance grew further after he defeated Mamata Banerjee in the Bhabanipur Assembly seat. According to Election Commission data, he won by more than 15,000 votes. This victory made him one of the most powerful faces of the BJP in the state.
Party leaders believe Adhikari matches the qualities the BJP leadership wanted in Bengal. He is a local Bengali leader with strong grassroots connections and long political experience in the state.
Although Suvendu Adhikari is considered the leading choice, there are other BJP leaders whose names are also being discussed for the chief minister’s post.
One of them is Dilip Ghosh, a senior BJP leader and former state president. He won the Kharagpur Sadar seat in the recent election. Ghosh has a long connection with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and has earlier led the BJP’s campaigns in Bengal.
Another important name is Samik Bhattacharya, who currently serves as the BJP’s state president. He is known more for organisational work and election planning. Many party workers credit him for strengthening the BJP’s booth-level network across Bengal.
Former actor and politician Rupa Ganguly is also among the names being discussed. She won from Sonarpur Dakshin and remains a popular public figure in the state.
Agnimitra Paul, BJP state vice president, is another possible contender. She retained her seat from Asansol Dakshin with a comfortable margin. She has been active in women-related campaigns and public outreach programmes.
Swapan Dasgupta, a former Rajya Sabha member and academic, is also part of the discussion after winning the Rashbehari Assembly seat.
Despite several names, political observers believe Suvendu Adhikari currently has the strongest support inside the party because of his recent electoral success and his role in the BJP’s rise in Bengal.
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The BJP has scheduled a legislative party meeting in Kolkata on May 8. During this meeting, the party’s newly elected MLAs are expected to officially choose their leader.
Reports suggest that state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya will propose the name of the new chief minister. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to announce the final decision after discussions with senior leaders.
Once the leader is selected, BJP leaders will visit Raj Bhavan and formally stake claim to form the government.
The swearing-in ceremony is expected to take place on May 9. Interestingly, the event will coincide with Rabindra Jayanti, the birth anniversary of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several senior BJP leaders are expected to attend the ceremony.
Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee has reacted strongly to the election result. She refused to resign immediately and claimed there was a conspiracy behind the outcome.
According to reports, Banerjee told party workers during a meeting that the situation should be remembered as a “black day.” She also said that if needed, authorities could impose President’s Rule or dismiss her government.
However, with the Assembly term ending on May 7, Governor RN Ravi dissolved the House, officially ending the TMC government’s tenure.
The TMC is now planning to challenge the election results in court. At the same time, the BJP has moved ahead with preparations to form the new government.
Suvendu Adhikari’s rise has become one of the biggest political stories in Bengal. He was once an important minister in Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet and played a key role in the Nandigram movement, which helped the TMC come to power in 2011.
After joining the BJP in 2020, he quickly became the face of the opposition against Mamata Banerjee. His victory in Bhabanipur has further strengthened his image as the BJP’s most influential leader in Bengal.
In simple terms, West Bengal is witnessing a major political change after 15 years of TMC rule. The BJP is now preparing to choose its first chief minister in the state, with Suvendu Adhikari emerging as the strongest candidate for the position.
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