West Bengal Chief Ministerial frontrunner Suvendu Adhikari on Friday received Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Kolkata ahead of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s crucial legislature party meeting, which is expected
to finalise the State’s next chief minister following the party’s landmark Assembly election victory.
Shah arrived in Kolkata earlier in the day as the BJP’s central observer for the election of the party’s legislative leader in West Bengal.
He was welcomed at the airport by Adhikari, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing Assembly, along with State BJP president Shamik Bhattacharya.
Soon after his arrival, Shah visited the Dakshineswar Kali Temple, where he offered prayers before commencing political engagements.
The visit is being seen as the formal start of the process leading to the formation of the BJP’s first-ever government in West Bengal.
Reacting to Shah’s arrival, BJP MP Rahul Sinha took a swipe at the opposition, saying predictions that senior Union leaders would be unable to visit the State after May 4 had been proven wrong. He said the legislature party meeting would bring clarity on leadership by the evening.
Sources indicated that ahead of the formal meeting, Shah is expected to hold detailed discussions with senior BJP leaders on the oath-taking ceremony and the structure of the new government.
Deliberations are also likely to cover the composition of the cabinet, allocation of key portfolios and the initial governance agenda.
Amit Shah has been appointed as the BJP’s central observer for West Bengal, with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi serving as co-observer.
Separately, BJP national president JP Nadda has been named central observer for Assam, assisted by Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.
The BJP is set to form its maiden government in West Bengal after a historic mandate. According to figures released by the Election Commission of India, the party secured 206 of the 294 Assembly seats, a sharp rise from its 77-seat tally in the 2021 elections.
The Trinamool Congress, which had dominated the previous polls, finished second with 80 seats.
The legislature party meeting is expected to mark the final step before the swearing-in of the new BJP-led government in the State.
