After the sweeping “saffron storm” in the West Bengal Assembly elections, the focus has now shifted from victory margins to the most crucial decision—who will lead Bengal’s first-ever BJP government. Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrives in Kolkata on Friday, where he will chair a high-stakes meeting with newly elected BJP MLAs.
Party insiders indicate that the Chief Minister's name is likely to be finalised during this meeting itself, putting an end to days of intense speculation.
The oath-taking ceremony is slated for Saturday at the iconic Brigade Parade Ground, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be present. His visit also fulfills a campaign promise he made during a massive rally at the same venue earlier this year. At the center of the Chief Minister's race stands Suvendu Adhikari, whose name is currently dominating political discussions both within the BJP and beyond.
Analysts point to his strong electoral track record—most notably his consecutive victories over incumbent Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. After defeating Banerjee in Nandigram in 2021, Adhikari repeated the feat in 2026, this time in her stronghold Bhabanipur, winning by a margin exceeding 15,000 votes.
Such back-to-back defeats of a sitting Chief Minister— particularly on her home turf—remain rare in Bengal’s political history. Adhikari also secured a second victory from Nandigram this election, defeating Trinamool Congress candidate Pabitra Kar by nearly 10,000 votes. Within party ranks, this dual success has strengthened the perception of him being the chief architect of the BJP’s historic breakthrough in the state.
While internal consensus appears to be building around Adhikari, the final decision rests with Amit Shah, whose Friday meeting is expected to seal the leadership question. Meanwhile, elaborate preparations are underway at Brigade Parade Ground for Saturday’s swearing-in ceremony, which is being projected as a landmark political moment.
Prime Minister Modi is expected to arrive in Kolkata in the morning and attend the ceremony between 11:30 am and 12:30 pm before returning to Delhi later in the day.
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