Suvendu to Become First BJP CM in West Bengal, TVK’s Vijay Also Nears Power in Tamil Nadu with Left Support

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari is set to become the first BJP Chief Minister of West Bengal after being elected legislative party leader. In Tamil Nadu, Vijay’s TVK moved closer to forming government after receiving unconditional support from CPI and backing from Left allies.

Team RuralVoice

Published: May 8, 2026 - 17:19 Updated: May 8, 2026 - 18:09

Suvendu to Become First BJP CM in West Bengal, TVK’s Vijay Also Nears Power in Tamil Nadu with Left Support

In a historic political development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to form its first-ever government in West Bengal with senior leader Suvendu Adhikari chosen as the Chief Minister-designate. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was appointed as the central observer for the election of the BJP legislative party leader, formally announced Adhikari’s selection on Friday. All the 207 newly elected BJP MLAs were present at the meeting of the legislative party.

“A total of eight proposals were submitted, but all of them carried only one name. Adequate time was given for proposing another candidate, but no other name was put forward. So I announce the name of Suvendu Adhikari elected as Leader of West Bengal BJP Legislative Party,” Shah said after the meeting of newly elected BJP MLAs. Adhikari is now set to take oath as the first BJP Chief Minister of the state. Suvendu Adhikari will take oath on Saturday at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also likely to attend the swearing-in ceremony.

Suvendu Adhikari defeated Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee by more than 15,000 votes from the Bhabanipur Assembly seat in Kolkata in this election. He also won from the Nandigram seat. Adhikari had earlier defeated Mamata Banerjee from Nandigram by 1,956 votes in the 2021 Assembly elections as well.

Once a close confidant of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Suvendu Adhikari played a key role in the Nandigram land acquisition movement before quitting the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in 2020. Since 2021, he has been serving as the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.

Born on December 15, 1970, in Contai in Purba Medinipur district, Adhikari is the son of former Union minister Sisir Adhikari. He began his political career with the Indian National Congress in 1995 and later joined the newly formed Trinamool Congress in 1998. Adhikari switched to the BJP in December 2020 and went on to contest the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections against Mamata Banerjee from Nandigram, defeating her in one of the state’s most closely watched political battles.

Meanwhile, in Tamil Nadu, actor-turned-politician Vijay has moved closer to forming the government. His party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has received unconditional support from the Communist Party of India (CPI). The CPI(M) and VCK have also announced their support for TVK, while the Congress party, which has five MLAs, had already declared its backing for the party.

The support comes after TVK emerged as the single largest party in the April 23 Assembly elections by winning 107 seats, though it still fell short of the majority mark of 118. Following the results, TVK approached DMK allies - CPI, CPI(M) and VCK - seeking support to form the government. Each of these three parties has two MLAs in the Assembly.

The CPI has submitted a letter of unconditional support to the Governor in favour of the Vijay-led alliance. Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary M. A. Baby said the Left parties and the VCK were taking these steps to help TVK demonstrate majority support before the Governor.