Suvendu Adhikari has now been confirmed to be the new Chief Minister of West Bengal on May 8, 2026. Adhikari, the face of the BJP in Bengal, has done what he set out to do ahead of the Assembly elections 2026 and defeated Mamata Banerjee and TMC's long rule in the state.
Adhikari emerged as the Bharatiya Janata Party's most prominent face in West Bengal politics after twice defeating Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee in high-stakes electoral battles - both in 2021 and now in 2026.
Prior to the confirmation, he was serving as the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, and was widely seen as the BJP's frontrunner for the Chief Minister's post following the party's aggressive push in the 2026 Assembly elections.
Once considered one of Mamata Banerjee's closest lieutenants, Adhikari played a crucial role in the 2007 Nandigram anti-land acquisition movement that helped propel the TMC to power in Bengal. However, growing differences within the party — particularly amid the rise of Abhishek Banerjee — led to his dramatic exit from the TMC in 2020 and entry into the BJP.
Adhikari's political stature soared after he defeated Mamata Banerjee in the 2021 Nandigram Assembly election, handing the Chief Minister one of the biggest setbacks of her career. Five years later, he repeated the feat by defeating her again in the 2026 Assembly polls from Bhabanipur, considered Banerjee's political stronghold.
Known for his aggressive campaigning and strong grassroots connect, the BJP leader has been credited with rebuilding the saffron party's organisational structure in Bengal and expanding its influence across the state.
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Coming from the influential Adhikari political family of Purba Medinipur, Suvendu is the son of Sisir Adhikari and has previously served as an MP from Tamluk and as a minister in the West Bengal government.
His back-to-back victories against Mamata Banerjee have significantly strengthened his position within the BJP and reshaped the political narrative in West Bengal, where the saffron party has long struggled to dislodge the TMC from power.
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