From Dilip Ghosh’s Proposal To Amit Shah’s Announcement: How Suvendu Adhikari Was Chosen As Bengal CM

Last Updated:May 08, 2026, 19:17 IST

Suvendu Adhikari quickly emerged as the frontrunner because of his central role in the BJP’s rise in Bengal and his influence across key districts.

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s decision to appoint Suvendu Adhikari as the next Chief Minister of West Bengal followed days of internal discussions and strategic consultations after the party’s sweeping victory in the Assembly elections. The process culminated on Friday when Union Home Minister Amit Shah formally announced Suvendu Adhikari as the leader of the BJP Legislative Party, clearing the way for him to become Bengal’s first BJP Chief Minister.

Read more: ‘There Is Democracy In BJP’: Suvendu Adhikari’s First Reaction After Being Chosen Bengal CM

How Suvendu Emerged As BJP’s Top Choice

The sequence began shortly after the BJP crossed the majority mark in the 294-member Assembly. Suvendu Adhikari quickly emerged as the frontrunner because of his central role in the BJP’s rise in Bengal and his influence across key districts. Senior BJP leader Dilip Ghosh proposed Suvendu Adhikari’s name during internal consultations, arguing that he had become the face of the BJP’s Bengal expansion and was best positioned to lead the government after the party’s historic breakthrough in the state. The proposal received broad support from MLAs and central observers as the BJP leadership.

Amit Shah’s Kolkata Visit Signals Final Decision

Ahead of the formal announcement, Amit Shah arrived in Kolkata to oversee the BJP legislature party meeting. Suvendu Adhikari personally received Amit Shah at the airport, a move widely viewed within party circles as a strong signal about the leadership decision.

At the legislature party meeting attended by newly elected BJP MLAs, Suvendu Adhikari’s name was formally proposed and backed by senior party leaders before being unanimously approved.

Read more: Caste, Cadre, Consolidation & Combat: Why BJP Went All-In On Suvendu Adhikari As Its Bengal CM Pick

Soon after, Amit Shah publicly declared Suvendu Adhikari as Bengal’s next Chief Minister and described the BJP’s victory as the culmination of a decades-long ideological struggle.

“After a 100-year ideological journey, the BJP is in power everywhere from Gangotri to Gangasagar," Amit Shah said while addressing party workers and legislators.

Amit Shah Links Bengal Victory To Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s Legacy

Amit Shah linked the moment to the legacy of Syama Prasad Mookerjee and said the BJP’s rise in Bengal fulfilled a long-standing goal for the party. He also highlighted the BJP’s rapid growth in the state, noting that the party had risen from just three Assembly seats in 2016 to 77 in 2021 before surging to 207 seats in the latest elections.

Read more: Suvendu Adhikari’s Road To Power In Bengal: From Rising TMC Star To First BJP Chief Minister

“When I had just become the Bengal president in 2014, our current president Samik Bhattacharya opened our account by winning the by-election. In 2016, we had 3 seats. In 2021, we had 77, and in 2026, we have 207 seats, and our Chief Minister is going to be elected," Amit Shah said.

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