West Bengal Governor R. N. Ravi dissolved the State Legislative Assembly with effect from May 7, 2026, invoking powers under Article 174(2)(b) of the Constitution. The move formally ends the tenure of the 17th West Bengal Legislative Assembly elected in 2021.

In the 2026 assembly elections, the BJP won 207 seats in the 294-member House, ending 15 years of Trinamool Congress rule. The TMC was reduced to 80 seats, and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who had refused to concede defeat, lost her seat to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.

The BJP has scheduled the swearing-in of the new government at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Grounds on May 9, 2026. Newly elected BJP legislators will meet on May 8, 2026, at 4 p.m., under the supervision of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, appointed as central observer. Suvendu Adhikari is the leading candidate for Chief Minister.

Shah is expected to arrive in Kolkata on the evening of May 7, 2026, to assess the law and order situation after post-poll violence, including the fatal shooting of Chandranath Rath, personal assistant to Adhikari, in North 24 Parganas on May 6. Security has been heightened across the state.

The new government will take office on May 9, following the formal legislative process and party consultations. The Election Commission has confirmed all results and handed over the mandate to the Governor.