Kunal Ghosh congratulates CM Suvendu Adhikari in surprise Facebook post
Synopsis
In a striking political moment, TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh — once one of Suvendu Adhikari's sharpest critics — publicly congratulated him as West Bengal's new Chief Minister on Facebook. The gesture, from a party that has contested the election results, signals a carefully calibrated tone from TMC as it settles into opposition.
Key Takeaways
Kunal Ghosh , TMC MLA and spokesperson, congratulated Suvendu Adhikari as West Bengal Chief Minister in a Facebook post on 11 May .
Ghosh also extended wishes to new Leader of Opposition Sovandeb Chattopadhyay , TMC deputy leader Asima Patra , and Opposition Chief Whip Firhad Hakim .
The move was widely seen as a surprise, given Ghosh's history of sharp verbal attacks on Adhikari , including allegations about the 2021 Assembly elections .
Adhikari joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2020 , after which relations between the two deteriorated sharply.
In his first Cabinet meeting, Adhikari approved land allocation to the Border Security Force (BSF) for barbed fencing along the unfenced India-Bangladesh border within 45 days .
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA and party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh on Monday, 11 May publicly congratulated West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari in a Facebook post, in a move that caught political observers off guard given the two leaders' long history of bitter rivalry. The gesture came a day after Adhikari was sworn in as Chief Minister of West Bengal and held his first Cabinet meeting.
What Kunal Ghosh Said
In his post, Ghosh wrote:
Point of View
Not an individual impulse. What is notable is the framing: Ghosh did not withdraw TMC's allegations about the counting process; he simply separated them from the courtesy of acknowledging a new government. That is a subtle but important distinction, and one that tells you TMC is already thinking about how to be a credible opposition rather than a party in denial.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Kunal Ghosh congratulate Suvendu Adhikari?
Kunal Ghosh congratulated Suvendu Adhikari on becoming West Bengal Chief Minister in a Facebook post on 11 May, extending goodwill while noting that TMC still maintains its position on the voter list, voting machines, and counting process. The gesture was seen as a political courtesy acknowledging the new government, despite their longstanding rivalry.
Who is Suvendu Adhikari?
Suvendu Adhikari is the newly sworn-in Chief Minister of West Bengal and a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader. He joined the BJP in 2020 after parting ways with the Trinamool Congress, where he had previously worked alongside figures like Kunal Ghosh.
What was Suvendu Adhikari's first Cabinet decision?
In his first Cabinet meeting as Chief Minister, Adhikari approved the allocation of land to the Border Security Force (BSF) for the installation of barbed fencing along the currently unfenced international border with Bangladesh, to be completed within 45 days.
Who are the new TMC leaders in the Bengal opposition?
Sovandeb Chattopadhyay has been named Leader of the Opposition, Asima Patra as TMC's deputy leader in the Assembly, and Firhad Hakim as Opposition Chief Whip. Kunal Ghosh congratulated all three in the same Facebook post.
What is the history between Kunal Ghosh and Suvendu Adhikari?
The two once worked together within the Trinamool Congress but became fierce rivals after Adhikari joined the BJP in 2020. Ghosh repeatedly accused Adhikari of winning the 2021 Assembly elections through irregularities, including alleged power outages at counting centres — making Monday's congratulatory post all the more unexpected.
