Suvendu Adhikari Set to Become West Bengal’s New Chief Minister
Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has been chosen as the next Chief Minister of West Bengal after the BJP Legislature Party approved his name during its meeting. He is scheduled to take oath on Saturday at 11 AM.
With the BJP preparing to form its first-ever government in West Bengal, the party has ended the 15-year rule of Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress.
While many people are familiar with Suvendu Adhikari’s political achievements, his personal and political journey remains equally fascinating.
Born Into a Powerful Political Family
Suvendu Adhikari was born on December 15, 1970, in Contai (Kanthi) in Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal. He belongs to a prominent political family.
His father, Sisir Adhikari, was an influential politician and served multiple terms as a Member of Parliament after being elected to the Lok Sabha in 2009, 2014, and 2019.
Sisur Adhikari also served on parliamentary committees related to road transport, highways, rural development, and Panchayati Raj.
Began Political Career Through Student Politics
Suvendu Adhikari learned the basics of politics within his family environment. He began his political career in 1989 through the Congress student wing.
At a time when Left-backed student organisations dominated Bengal politics, Adhikari emerged as a strong opposition student leader, showcasing his leadership and organisational skills early in his career.
Unmarried Leader With Strong Political Family Connections
Suvendu Adhikari remains unmarried.
His brother Soumendu Adhikari is also associated with the BJP, while another brother, Dibyendu Adhikari, earlier served as a Trinamool Congress MP.
Started Electoral Journey as Councillor
Adhikari officially entered electoral politics in 1995 when he was elected as a councillor in Contai Municipality from the Congress party.
Later, in 2006, he was elected to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from the Kanthi South constituency. In the same year, he also became Chairman of Contai Municipality.
Nandigram Movement Changed Bengal Politics
In 2007, Suvendu Adhikari emerged as one of the key leaders of the anti-land acquisition movement in Nandigram. He led the Bhumi Uchhed Pratirodh Committee, which opposed the Left Front government’s plan to acquire nearly 10,000 acres of land for a Special Economic Zone.
The Nandigram movement became a turning point in Bengal politics and played a major role in bringing Mamata Banerjee to the centre of state politics.
Rise to National Prominence
Following his success in Nandigram, Adhikari won the Tamluk Lok Sabha seat in 2009 by defeating CPI(M) candidate Lakshman Seth by a huge margin of around 1.73 lakh votes.
In the 2016 Assembly elections, he won from the Nandigram constituency against Left-Congress alliance candidate Abdul Kadir Sheikh. After the victory, he joined Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet as Transport Minister on May 27, 2016.
Rift With TMC and Shift to BJP
After the 2016 elections, dissatisfaction within the Trinamool Congress gradually increased over several political developments.
The BJP’s strong performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections dramatically changed Bengal’s political atmosphere. During this period, the growing influence of Abhishek Banerjee within the TMC reportedly created unease among senior grassroots leaders like Suvendu Adhikari.
Adhikari and his supporters felt that traditional leaders within the party were being sidelined.
Joined BJP in 2020
In November 2020, Suvendu Adhikari resigned from Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet and later stepped down from the Trinamool Congress and his MLA post.
On December 19, 2020, he officially joined the BJP during a rally attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Midnapore.
After the 2021 Assembly elections, BJP appointed him as the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly.
Defeating Mamata Banerjee Changed His Political Career
Suvendu Adhikari gained nationwide attention in 2021 after defeating Mamata Banerjee in the high-profile Nandigram Assembly constituency battle.
The victory established him as BJP’s strongest face in Bengal politics. Now, after BJP’s historic win in the 2026 Assembly elections, the party has chosen him to become the first BJP Chief Minister of West Bengal.