Suvendu Adhikari takes over as West Bengal chief minister today, completing one of the most dramatic political transformations in contemporary Indian politics — from being the most trusted lieutenant of Mamata Banerjee to becoming the Bharatiya Janata Party’s chief architect in the state and the face of a historic political transition in Bengal.
The BJP’s sweeping victory in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election, winning 207 of the 294 seats, has effectively ended the 15-year dominance of Banerjee’s All India Trinamool Congress (TMC). The BJP’s rise to power in Bengal for the first time marks a major breakthrough for the party in eastern India, with Adhikari at the centre of that political shift.
Born on December 15, 1970, in Purba Medinipur district, Adhikari comes from one of Bengal’s most influential political families. His father, Sisir Adhikari, was a veteran parliamentarian, while several members of the family built a formidable political network across coastal Bengal.
Educated at Vidyasagar University, Suvendu began his political journey through the Congress before joining Mamata Banerjee during the rise of the TMC as an anti-Left force.
His rise as a major political figure came during the 2007 Nandigram agitation, one of the defining moments in Bengal’s political history.
The violent protests against land acquisition by the then Left Front government transformed the state’s political equations. Adhikari played a central organisational role in mobilising farmers and local communities, helping Mamata Banerjee build the momentum that eventually brought the TMC to power in 2011.
Key turning points in Adhikari’s political rise:
Played a frontline role in the Nandigram movement
Helped weaken the Left Front’s decades-long dominance
Emerged as one of TMC’s strongest grassroots organisers
Built a powerful political base in East Midnapore
For years, Adhikari was seen as Banerjee’s most effective field commander. He served as MP, MLA and minister, handling key portfolios including transport and irrigation.
However, tensions within the TMC steadily intensified. Adhikari and his supporters reportedly felt marginalised as power within the party became increasingly concentrated around Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee.
The split culminated in his dramatic switch to the BJP in December 2020, months before the crucial 2021 Assembly election.
The political rivalry then turned deeply personal. Contesting from Nandigram in 2021, Adhikari defeated Mamata Banerjee in one of India’s most closely watched electoral battles. Although the TMC retained power statewide, Adhikari’s victory firmly established him as the BJP’s principal campaigner in Bengal.
Five years later, Adhikari helped engineer an even bigger political upset. In the 2026 election, the BJP not only captured power but also defeated Banerjee in Bhabanipur, her long-time political stronghold, while Adhikari retained Nandigram.
The BJP’s Bengal victory is significant because:
It marks the party’s first government in West Bengal
Ends 15 years of TMC rule
Expands BJP’s influence in eastern India
Positions Adhikari as BJP’s strongest regional leader in Bengal
Adhikari’s rise has also remained controversial. Critics accuse him of sharpening communal polarisation and using inflammatory rhetoric. He has repeatedly faced criticism over remarks targeting Muslim legislators and comments opponents described as divisive and provocative.
The TMC has frequently accused him of promoting confrontation politics, while supporters view him as an aggressive leader willing to directly challenge the ruling establishment.
Adhikari now inherits a politically polarised state grappling with unemployment, investment concerns and recurring political violence.
His immediate priorities are expected to include:
Reviving industrial investment
Addressing youth unemployment
Controlling political violence
Improving governance and administration
Balancing aggressive politics with stable leadership
For the BJP, Adhikari represents its most successful attempt yet to establish a durable political base in eastern India. Whether he can convert electoral victory into stable governance will determine not only his future, but also the BJP’s long-term prospects in West Bengal.
