Kolkata: Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari was on Friday unanimously elected as the leader of the BJP legislature party in West Bengal, paving the way for him to take charge as the state’s next Chief Minister.

The decision was announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a meeting of newly elected BJP MLAs and senior party leaders. Shah said the selection reflected a unanimous endorsement within the party.

“Eight proposals were received, and all of them had only one name. Adequate time was given for a second name, but no other name was proposed. Therefore, I announce Suvendu Adhikari as the Chief Minister of West Bengal,” Shah said after the meeting.

Adhikari’s elevation marks a major political shift in West Bengal, setting the stage for the formation of the first BJP government in the state after ending the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) rule that lasted over 15 years.

A former close aide of TMC chief Mamata Banerjee, Adhikari joined the BJP in December 2020 and quickly emerged as the party’s key face in Bengal politics. He led the BJP’s campaign and played a significant role in strengthening its organisational base across the state.

His political prominence grew after defeating Banerjee in the high-profile Nandigram constituency in the 2021 Assembly elections. In the 2026 elections, he again defeated her, this time in the Bhabanipur seat.

According to party sources, the swearing-in ceremony of the new BJP government will be held on May 9 at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata. The event is expected to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, and other senior BJP leaders.