Former Mamata aide Suvendu Adhikari to be Bengal CM, elected BJP legislature party leader

Suvendu Adhikari, once a close aide of Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, is set to take her place in the West Bengal Chief Minister Office.

Adhikari was today elected leader of the BJP legislature party in Kolkata in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah who was party’s central observer for the task.

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Shah promised Sonar Bangla after Adhikari was elected and said Bengal had placed tremendous responsibility on the shoulders of the BJP, which must not falter.

Adhikari will take oath as CM at a ceremony to be held at Brigade Parade Ground tomorrow. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all top BJP and NDA leaders will attend the oath-taking of the first-ever BJP government in West Bengal.

Adhikari sealed his claim on the top job after defeating Mamata twice — from Nandigram in 2021 and again Bhabanipur this time.

Speaking today in Kolkata, Shah said, “On behalf of the party, I also want to say that the expectations the people of Bengal have placed on us, and the mandate they have given with hope and trust, we will make every effort to ensure that their faith is not broken in any way. There should be no shortcomings in our work. It is the responsibility of every BJP worker to move forward with the goal of building a ‘Sonar Bangla’ and to fulfil the aspirations of the people of Bengal…It is now our duty to fulfil the promises made by PM Modi to the people of Bengal, and to dedicate our best efforts in service of the people.”