What is the story about?
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to form its first government in West Bengal after a decisive win in the 2026 Assembly elections, securing 206 seats in the 294-member House, while the Trinamool Congress (TMC) was reduced to 81. The verdict brings an end to TMC’s 15-year rule and signals a major political shift in the state.
Attention has now turned to the BJP's chief ministerial choice, with the oath-taking ceremony scheduled for May 9, as per BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya.
The decision will be reportedly taken after consultations involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and other senior leaders, with inputs from central observers and state units. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has been appointed as the central co-observer.
Landmark verdict and leadership focus
The West Bengal election saw Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lose the Bhabanipur seat to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari by over 15,000 votes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the state has “witnessed a change” and that the “lotus has bloomed from Gangotri to Gangasagar”, while addressing party workers in New Delhi.
Who are the key contenders to West Bengal CM post?Suvendu Adhikari
Suvendu Adhikari remains a central figure in the leadership discussion. He retained Nandigram and defeated Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur.
Adhikari began his political career with the Congress, becoming a councillor in Kanthi municipality in 1995. He joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in 1998 and was elected from Contai South in 2006. He played a key role in the 2007 Nandigram land agitation against a proposed chemical hub, which contributed to TMC’s rise to power.
He later entered Parliament from Tamluk in 2009 and retained the seat in 2014. Returning to state politics in 2016, he won from Nandigram on a TMC ticket and joined the state cabinet before switching to the BJP in December 2020. After defeating Banerjee in the 2021 elections, he became Leader of the Opposition.
Dilip Ghosh
Dilip Ghosh, a former state BJP president and RSS affiliate, won the Kharagpur Sadar seat.
Ghosh was earlier elected from the same constituency in 2016 and led the party’s campaign during the general elections 2019, when the BJP secured a 40.7% vote share in the state.
"The public of the Kharagpur Sadar Assembly constituency has bestowed its trust upon me... The public has a lot of expectations from the party as they voted overwhelmingly for us," he said, as per news agency ANI.
Agnimitra Paul
Agnimitra Paul, BJP’s state vice president, retained Asansol Dakshin with a margin of 40,839 votes against TMC’s Tapas Banerjee.
As an MLA and party spokesperson, she has been active in public engagement, particularly on issues concerning women, and is part of the party’s emerging leadership base.
Samik Bhattacharya
Samik Bhattacharya, the current state BJP president, is also being considered. Known for his organisational focus, he has worked on booth-level management, electoral strategy and cadre mobilisation, reflecting the party’s long-term structural approach in West Bengal.
Rupa Ganguly
Rupa Ganguly, a former Rajya Sabha MP and actor, won the Sonarpur Dakshin constituency by defeating TMC’s Arundhuti Maitra.
Her public profile and electoral performance are seen as assets in expanding the party’s urban outreach.
Swapan Dasgupta
Swapan Dasgupta, who won the Rashbehari seat, is a former Rajya Sabha MP and holds a doctorate in Philosophy from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.
He had earlier contested from Tarakeswar and lost in the previous Assembly elections.
Decision awaited
With multiple contenders in the fray, the BJP leadership is expected to weigh electoral performance, organisational experience and broader political considerations before announcing its chief ministerial pick.
The possibility of appointing a deputy chief minister is also reportedly under discussion.
Attention has now turned to the BJP's chief ministerial choice, with the oath-taking ceremony scheduled for May 9, as per BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya.
The decision will be reportedly taken after consultations involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and other senior leaders, with inputs from central observers and state units. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has been appointed as the central co-observer.
Landmark verdict and leadership focus
The West Bengal election saw Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lose the Bhabanipur seat to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari by over 15,000 votes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the state has “witnessed a change” and that the “lotus has bloomed from Gangotri to Gangasagar”, while addressing party workers in New Delhi.
Who are the key contenders to West Bengal CM post?Suvendu Adhikari
Suvendu Adhikari remains a central figure in the leadership discussion. He retained Nandigram and defeated Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur.
Adhikari began his political career with the Congress, becoming a councillor in Kanthi municipality in 1995. He joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in 1998 and was elected from Contai South in 2006. He played a key role in the 2007 Nandigram land agitation against a proposed chemical hub, which contributed to TMC’s rise to power.
He later entered Parliament from Tamluk in 2009 and retained the seat in 2014. Returning to state politics in 2016, he won from Nandigram on a TMC ticket and joined the state cabinet before switching to the BJP in December 2020. After defeating Banerjee in the 2021 elections, he became Leader of the Opposition.
Dilip Ghosh
Dilip Ghosh, a former state BJP president and RSS affiliate, won the Kharagpur Sadar seat.
Ghosh was earlier elected from the same constituency in 2016 and led the party’s campaign during the general elections 2019, when the BJP secured a 40.7% vote share in the state.
"The public of the Kharagpur Sadar Assembly constituency has bestowed its trust upon me... The public has a lot of expectations from the party as they voted overwhelmingly for us," he said, as per news agency ANI.
Agnimitra Paul
Agnimitra Paul, BJP’s state vice president, retained Asansol Dakshin with a margin of 40,839 votes against TMC’s Tapas Banerjee.
As an MLA and party spokesperson, she has been active in public engagement, particularly on issues concerning women, and is part of the party’s emerging leadership base.
Samik Bhattacharya
Samik Bhattacharya, the current state BJP president, is also being considered. Known for his organisational focus, he has worked on booth-level management, electoral strategy and cadre mobilisation, reflecting the party’s long-term structural approach in West Bengal.
Rupa Ganguly
Rupa Ganguly, a former Rajya Sabha MP and actor, won the Sonarpur Dakshin constituency by defeating TMC’s Arundhuti Maitra.
Her public profile and electoral performance are seen as assets in expanding the party’s urban outreach.
Swapan Dasgupta
Swapan Dasgupta, who won the Rashbehari seat, is a former Rajya Sabha MP and holds a doctorate in Philosophy from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.
He had earlier contested from Tarakeswar and lost in the previous Assembly elections.
Decision awaited
With multiple contenders in the fray, the BJP leadership is expected to weigh electoral performance, organisational experience and broader political considerations before announcing its chief ministerial pick.
The possibility of appointing a deputy chief minister is also reportedly under discussion.
