West Bengal CM Name Announcement: Amit Shah Arrives In Kolkata, To Lead BJP Leadership Discussions

The Bharatiya Janata Party is set to form its first government in West Bengal after securing a massive victory in the 2026 Assembly elections, winning 207 out of 294 seats and ending 15 years of rule by the All India Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee.

Union home minister Amit Shah arrived in Kolkata on Thursday to oversee the selection of the BJP legislature party leader, who will become the next chief minister of the state. BJP leaders Suvendu Adhikari and Agnimitra Paul are among the frontrunners for the top post.

R N Ravi dissolved the state assembly with effect from May 7 after Mamata Banerjee reportedly declined to formally resign despite losing the Bhabanipur constituency to Suvendu Adhikari. The BJP legislature party meeting is being held at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre to finalise the leadership decision.

The swearing-in ceremony of the new BJP government is scheduled for May 9 at the Brigade Parade Ground in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and chief ministers from BJP-ruled states. Preparations, security arrangements and traffic curbs are already underway across Kolkata ahead of the historic event.

Meanwhile, the political transition has been overshadowed by the murder of Chandranath Rath, personal assistant to Suvendu Adhikari, who was shot dead in Madhyamgram earlier this week. Police have formed a Special Investigation Team and detained three people in connection with the case. BJP leaders have alleged political violence, while opposition parties have raised concerns over the post-election atmosphere in the state.