BJP's Suvendu Adhikari stakes claim for West Bengal CM post, oath on Saturday
Synopsis
BJP's Suvendu Adhikari is set to become West Bengal's ninth Chief Minister on Saturday, ending Mamata Banerjee's 15-year run. With 207 legislators behind him and PM Modi and Amit Shah expected at the swearing-in, the political transition marks the most consequential shift in Bengal's governance since 2011.
Key Takeaways
BJP's Suvendu Adhikari staked claim for the West Bengal Chief Minister post on Friday evening , submitting a letter signed by all 207 elected BJP legislators to Governor R.N.
The oath ceremony is scheduled for Saturday at 10 am , coinciding with Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore's birth anniversary as per the Bengali calendar.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to attend the swearing-in.
Governor Ravi dissolved the outgoing Assembly on Thursday evening , automatically ending Mamata Banerjee's 15-year tenure as Chief Minister.
Adhikari will be West Bengal's ninth Chief Minister , pledging to govern on the basis of collective leadership .
The newly constituted legislative team of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal, led by Chief Minister-designate Suvendu Adhikari, on Friday evening marched to Lok Bhavan (formerly Raj Bhavan) in Kolkata and formally staked claim for forming the new state government before Governor R.N. Ravi. The delegation submitted a signed letter from all 207 elected BJP legislators, paving the way for a swearing-in ceremony scheduled for Saturday at 10 am.
Formal Claim Submitted to Governor
Accompanying Adhikari was West Bengal BJP President and Rajya Sabha member Samik Bhattacharya, along with several party parliamentarians and senior state leaders. Adhikari and Bhattacharya jointly handed over the official petition bearing the signatures of all 207 newly elected BJP legislators, formally requesting the formation of the new state Cabinet.
Oath Ceremony Set for Saturday Morning
The swearing-in is scheduled for Saturday at 10 am — a date that coincides with the birth anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore as per the Bengali calendar. 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, senior Union Cabinet members, and top central BJP leaders.
End of Mamata Banerjee's 15-Year Tenure
On Thursday evening, Governor Ravi had issued an order for the dissolution of the outgoing Assembly, which automatically dissolved the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal Cabinet and rendered her the former Chief Minister of the state. Notably, Banerjee did not follow the traditional protocol of submitting her resignation to the Governor before the dissolution order was issued. As of the time of reporting, her Facebook and X accounts still carried the tag
Point of View
With its entrenched political loyalties, administrative complexities, and history of post-election violence, demands more than a legislative majority. Adhikari's stated commitment to 'collective leadership' will be scrutinised closely: West Bengal's bureaucracy and law enforcement have long operated under a highly centralised political command. Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee's reluctance to follow resignation protocol — and the lingering social media tags — signal that the TMC intends to remain a formidable opposition force rather than quietly cede the political space.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the new Chief Minister of West Bengal?
Suvendu Adhikari of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to become West Bengal's new Chief Minister. He was unanimously selected as the leader of the BJP legislative party on Friday and is scheduled to be sworn in on Saturday at 10 am.
When is the West Bengal swearing-in ceremony?
The oath ceremony is scheduled for Saturday at 10 am. It coincides with the birth anniversary of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore as per the Bengali calendar, and will be administered by Governor R.N. Ravi.
Who will attend the West Bengal oath ceremony?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Ministers from other BJP-ruled states, senior Union Cabinet members, and top central BJP leaders are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony in Kolkata.
What happened to Mamata Banerjee as Chief Minister?
Governor R.N. Ravi dissolved the outgoing West Bengal Assembly on Thursday evening, which automatically dissolved the Mamata Banerjee-led Cabinet and made her the former Chief Minister. She had not submitted a formal resignation prior to the dissolution order.
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 2026. Her tenure began with the end of the 34-year Left Front regime and marked the rise of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) to power in the state.
