With the Bharatiya Janata Party securing a historic mandate in West Bengal, the focus has shifted to who will take over as chief minister. Suvendu Adhikari has emerged as a strong contender after defeating Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur by 15,105 votes. He also retained Nandigram, strengthening his position within the party.
Adhikari, who joined the BJP in 2020 after leaving the Trinamool Congress, has been one of the party’s most prominent faces in the state. Reacting to the result, he said, “This is a historic victory… a victory of Hindutva, a victory of Bengal, a victory of Modiji.”
Samik Bhattacharya, Agnimitra Paul among key contenders
The BJP has kept multiple options open. State unit chief Samik Bhattacharya is in the mix, credited with steering the party to its first assembly victory in Bengal.
Agnimitra Paul is another strong name. After her win from Asansol Dakshin, she is seen as a viable choice, especially if the party opts for a woman chief minister.
Other probable faces in the race
Apart from the top contenders, several other leaders are also being discussed within party circles.
Swapan Dasgupta, a former journalist and a prominent bhadralok face of the BJP in Bengal, is known for his proximity to the central leadership. However, his limited administrative experience could weigh against him.
Dilip Ghosh, the former state BJP president, played a crucial role in expanding the party’s base since 2016. Under his leadership, the BJP secured 18 out of 42 Lok Sabha seats in 2019, its best performance in the state. Though he had drifted from active roles after recent electoral setbacks, he returned to prominence earlier this year after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He is set to win from Kharagpur Sadar.
Sukanta Majumder, another former state president and currently a Union minister in the Narendra Modi-led government, is also in consideration. He could emerge as a choice if the party looks to project a leader from north Bengal, a region where it enjoys strong support.
How BJP’s CM selection model could shape Bengal decision
The BJP has increasingly followed a collective leadership model when selecting chief ministers. Instead of projecting a face before elections, the party often takes a call after results, factoring in caste balance, regional representation and organisational strength.
In several large states, the party has appointed two deputy chief ministers alongside the CM to balance social equations. This approach has been used in states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
The model was first introduced in Uttar Pradesh in 2017, when Yogi Adityanath was named chief minister with Keshav Prasad Maurya and Dinesh Sharma as deputies. Since then, similar strategies have been adopted in other states.
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The leadership has also shown flexibility by changing chief ministers mid-term in some regions, while promoting others to national roles. At the same time, leaders like Adityanath, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Pramod Sawant and Devendra Fadnavis have remained key figures after completing their terms.
What happens next
The BJP is expected to hold a meeting of newly elected MLAs in Kolkata soon. The final decision on the chief minister will likely be taken by the central leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah, after consultations with observers and state leaders.
Sources indicate that along with the chief minister, the party may also consider appointing deputy chief ministers as it prepares to form its first government in West Bengal.
