West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya on Tuesday confirmed that the oath-taking ceremony for the state’s next chief minister will be held on May 9, as suspense continues over who will lead the BJP’s first-ever government in Bengal.
Following the party’s record-breaking victory in the assembly elections, all eyes are on the BJP leadership’s choice for chief minister — with Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari emerging as the strongest contender.
Adhikari’s stock has risen sharply after his high-profile victory over Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur on Monday.
The win carries added political significance as it marks the second time Adhikari has personally defeated Banerjee, having earlier beaten her in Nandigram during the 2021 assembly elections.
According to senior BJP leaders, the party could reward Adhikari’s consistent electoral success against the Trinamool Congress supremo by elevating him to the top post.
His candidature had received a visible boost during the campaign when Union Home Minister Amit Shah accompanied him while filing his nomination papers from Bhabanipur on April 2 — widely interpreted as a signal of strong backing from the central leadership.
Party insiders also point out that fielding Adhikari from two constituencies was an unusual strategic move that underscored the BJP’s confidence in his statewide appeal.
“For Adhikari, this was a test of his charisma and leadership capability as leader of the opposition, and he has delivered,” a senior BJP leader said.
However, the BJP has not officially narrowed the contest to Adhikari alone.
State unit chief Samik Bhattacharya and BJP vice-president Agnimitra Paul remain in contention.
Bhattacharya is being credited for steering the party to its maiden assembly triumph in Bengal and is seen as a strong organisational face.
Paul, meanwhile, could emerge as a consensus choice if the BJP opts to appoint a woman chief minister. The former Lok Sabha MP has steadily risen within the party’s Bengal ranks.
The final decision is expected after the BJP legislative party meeting in Kolkata later this week, ahead of the May 9 swearing-in ceremony.
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