BJP's Suvendu Adhikari to be sworn in as Bengal CM on Saturday
Synopsis
West Bengal is on the cusp of its most dramatic political transition in 15 years. BJP's Suvendu Adhikari will be sworn in as the state's ninth Chief Minister on Saturday, backed by all 207 BJP legislators, ending Mamata Banerjee's tenure — which itself concluded without a formal resignation, an extraordinary break from constitutional convention.
Key Takeaways
BJP delegation led by Suvendu Adhikari formally staked claim to form the West Bengal government before Governor R.N.
A letter signed by all 207 BJP legislators was jointly submitted by Adhikari and Samik Bhattacharya .
Oath ceremony scheduled for Saturday at 10 am IST , coinciding with Rabindranath Tagore's birth anniversary as per the Bengali calendar.
PM Narendra Modi , Home Minister Amit Shah , and Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states will attend the swearing-in.
Governor Ravi dissolved the Assembly on Thursday evening , automatically ending Mamata Banerjee's 15-year tenure; she did not submit a formal resignation.
Adhikari pledged to govern on the basis of collective leadership , not unilateral decision-making.
A delegation of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, led by West Bengal legislature party leader Suvendu Adhikari, on Friday, 8 May reached Lok Bhavan in Kolkata to formally stake the party's claim to form the state government before Governor R.N. Ravi. The move marks a seismic political shift in West Bengal, ending Mamata Banerjee's uninterrupted 15-year tenure as Chief Minister.
Formal Claim Submitted with 207 Signatures
State BJP President and Rajya Sabha member Samik Bhattacharya, along with several party MPs and senior state leaders, accompanied Adhikari in the delegation. Adhikari and Bhattacharya jointly handed over a letter formally staking claim to form the new government, carrying the signatures of all 207 BJP legislators — a show of unified legislative strength ahead of the swearing-in.
Oath Ceremony Scheduled for Saturday Morning
The swearing-in ceremony is set for Saturday at 10 am IST, a date that coincides with the birth anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore as per the Bengali calendar — a symbolically resonant choice. Governor Ravi will administer the oath in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Ministers from other BJP-ruled states, members of the Union Cabinet, and several top central BJP leaders.
Assembly Dissolved, Banerjee Exits Without Resigning
On Thursday evening, Governor Ravi issued the order for dissolution of the earlier Assembly, which automatically dissolved the previous Mamata Banerjee-led government. The dissolution effectively made Banerjee the former Chief Minister, even though she had not followed the traditional protocol of submitting her resignation to the Governor. Notably, even after officially losing office, Banerjee's Facebook and X accounts continued to carry the tag of Founder Chairperson All India Trinamool Congress. Honourable Chief Minister, West Bengal — a detail that drew public attention.
Adhikari Set to Become Bengal's Ninth Chief Minister
Suvendu Adhikari is set to become the ninth Chief Minister of West Bengal, succeeding Banerjee, who held the post for 15 years since 2011. Her rise to power in 2011 had ended the 24-year Left Front regime in the state and ushered in the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) government. After being unanimously selected as the legislature party leader, Adhikari pledged to run the new state administration on the basis of collective leadership, stating he would not impose decisions unilaterally on cabinet members.
What Comes Next
With the swearing-in set for Saturday morning, West Bengal enters a new political chapter. The BJP's ability to govern a state long dominated first by the Left and then by the TMC will be closely watched — both as a test of the party's administrative capacity and as a signal for future electoral battles in eastern India.
Point of View
For its part, has moved with unusual speed, staging a swearing-in on Tagore's birth anniversary to wrap a political takeover in cultural symbolism. The real test for Adhikari will not be the optics of Saturday morning but whether a party that has never governed Bengal can build an administrative machine in a state with entrenched local power structures. Collective leadership sounds reassuring in a press statement; it is considerably harder to deliver when patronage networks need to be dismantled and rebuilt.
NationPress
10 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will be sworn in as West Bengal's new Chief Minister?
Suvendu Adhikari, the BJP's West Bengal legislature party leader, will be sworn in as the state's ninth Chief Minister on Saturday, 9 May, at 10 am IST. He was unanimously selected as the legislature party leader ahead of the formal claim-staking.
Why did Mamata Banerjee not resign as Chief Minister?
Mamata Banerjee did not follow the traditional constitutional protocol of submitting her resignation to the Governor. The dissolution of the Assembly by Governor R.N. Ravi on Thursday evening automatically ended her government, making her the former Chief Minister without a formal resignation.
How many BJP legislators signed the claim letter submitted to the Governor?
All 207 BJP legislators signed the letter formally staking the party's claim to form the government in West Bengal. The letter was jointly submitted by Suvendu Adhikari and state BJP President Samik Bhattacharya at Lok Bhavan.
Who will attend the swearing-in ceremony in Kolkata?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Ministers from other BJP-ruled states, members of the Union Cabinet, and several top central BJP leaders are expected to attend the oath ceremony administered by Governor R.N. Ravi.
How long did Mamata Banerjee serve as West Bengal Chief Minister?
Mamata Banerjee served as West Bengal Chief Minister for 15 years, from 2011 to 2025. Her rise to power in 2011 ended the 24-year Left Front regime in the state and marked the beginning of the TMC government.
