Suvendu Adhikari has officially taken oath as the first BJP Chief Minister of West Bengal, marking a historic political shift in the state after decades of Left and TMC dominance. Once considered one of Mamata Banerjee’s closest aides inside the Trinamool Congress, Suvendu Adhikari dramatically switched to the BJP in 2020 — a move that reshaped Bengal politics forever. From leading the Nandigram movement to defeating Mamata Banerjee in two high-voltage elections, Adhikari steadily emerged as the BJP’s biggest face in Bengal. Now, after the BJP’s massive 207-seat victory, he has completed one of the most dramatic political rises in recent Indian politics.  

Mamata Banerjee has refused to resign following the BJP’s decisive electoral victory, alleging that the verdict was shaped by a “conspiracy.” Despite the Bharatiya Janata Party securing 206 seats and ending the 15-year rule of the Trinamool Congress, Banerjee maintained that her party had achieved a “moral victory.” She asserted that she would have stepped down if the defeat was genuine, but claimed the outcome was influenced by forceful interference. Banerjee also launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission of India, accusing it of bias and alleging that the electoral process was manipulated in favor of the BJP. The TMC has claimed that the mandate was “looted” in nearly 100 constituencies, citing irregularities and delays during counting. WATCH