West Bengal is witnessing a historic political transformation as Suvendu Adhikari prepares to take the oath of office today, Saturday, as the state`s first-ever Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief Minister. The high-profile ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance. This transition marks the end of a 15-year era led by Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress (TMC), signaling a major shift in the political landscape of eastern India.
The BJP`s victory in 207 of the 294 assembly seats has cemented Suvendu Adhikari`s reputation as a "giant killer." Adhikari managed to defeat the outgoing Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, twice in consecutive assembly elections—first in Nandigram in 2021 and now in her home turf of Bhawanipur in 2026. On Friday evening, following his unanimous selection as the leader of the BJP legislative party, Adhikari met Governor RN Ravi to formally stake his claim to form the new government.
Adhikari’s political journey is one of strategic evolution. Born into a prominent political family in East Midnapore, he began his career with the Congress party before joining Mamata Banerjee during the formation of the TMC. He was the grassroots architect of the 2007 Nandigram anti-land acquisition movement, which eventually led to the collapse of the 34-year Left Front regime in 2011. For years, he was considered Banerjee’s most trusted lieutenant, handling critical organizational responsibilities across the state.
The rift between the two leaders began to widen around 2019, primarily over the rising influence of Abhishek Banerjee, the Chief Minister`s nephew. Feeling sidelined, Adhikari defected to the BJP in late 2020. Since then, he has adopted a fiercely aggressive stance against his former party, focusing on issues of corruption, administrative failure, and illegal immigration. His rhetoric regarding "infiltrators" from Bangladesh and the Rohingya community played a significant role in consolidating Hindu votes, which ultimately powered the BJP`s historic win this year.
Despite the triumph, Adhikari’s tenure starts amid lingering questions regarding past controversies. His name appeared in the 2016 Narada sting operation, a scandal that has been a point of contention for years. While the TMC accuses the central government of protecting him through investigative agencies, Adhikari and the BJP have consistently dismissed these claims as politically motivated. As he steps into the role of Chief Minister, the primary challenge for Adhikari will be fulfilling the promise of "Parivartan" or change while navigating the complex communal and economic fabric of West Bengal. All eyes are now on the Brigade Parade Ground as the "Saffron Era" officially begins in Bengal.
