Suvendu Adhikari Named West Bengal Chief Minister-Designate After BJP's Historic Win

Suvendu Adhikari was named chief minister-designate of West Bengal on Friday after being unanimously elected leader of the BJP legislature party, marking the BJP's first government in the state following its assembly election victory. Addressing BJP legislators, Adhikari pledged to fulfill all promises in the party's election manifesto and emphasized coordination with the Centre to meet public aspirations.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed Adhikari's selection after a meeting of newly elected BJP MLAs, stating that eight proposals for legislature party leader were received, all bearing only Adhikari's name, and no other candidate was proposed. "Enough time was given for a second name, but no other proposal came. Therefore, I announce Suvendu Adhikari as the chief minister of West Bengal," Shah said.

Adhikari, a key figure in the BJP's rise in West Bengal, is scheduled to be sworn in as the ninth chief minister on Saturday morning at a ceremony at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and senior BJP leaders are expected to attend the event.

The BJP's victory ends the 15-year rule of the Trinamool Congress and represents a significant shift in the state's political landscape. Adhikari declared that "the atmosphere of fear in Bengal has ended" and said the state would now enter an era of "trust."

The swearing-in ceremony will formalize the transfer of power, with the new government expected to begin assembling its administrative team and outlining initial policy actions in the coming days.