Nandigram to writers’ buildings: The political journey of Suvendu Adhikari

KOLKATA: BJP Legislative Party leader Suvendu Adhikari today took oath as the state’s first BJP chief minister, marking a major political development in West Bengal.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, JP Nadda, and Dharmendra Pradhan, along with Tripura chief minister Manik Saha, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta, and Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Dhami.



The BJP scripted a landmark victory in the 294-member Assembly by winning 207 seats, while the TMC was reduced to 80 seats.

Following the party’s emphatic win, Adhikari was unanimously elected leader of the BJP legislature party at a meeting of newly elected MLAs attended by Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday.

Announcing the decision after a 30-minute closed-door meeting, Shah said eight proposals were received and all backed Adhikari’s name. “Adequate time was given for a second name, but no other proposal came,” he said.

FROM NANDIGRAM TO WRITERS’ BUILDINGS

• Suvendu Adhikari, 57, won his 1st election at 31; became Cong councillor in Contai municipality in 1995
• Became MLA in 2006, winning Contai South assembly seat for TMC
• Spearheaded Nandigram anti-land acquisition protests for TMC since 2007
• Became MP in 2009, winning Tamluk Lok Sabha seat on TMC ticket
• Won Nandigram assembly seat in 2016, became cabinet minister in Mamata Banerjee govt, held key portfolios
• Defected to BJP in Dec 2020. Defeated Mamata in Nandigram in 2021 assembly polls. Serves as Leader of Opposition in assembly

UNANIMOUS CHOICE:
Union home minister Amit Shah announced Suvendu Adhikari as Bengal’s new CM. At Shah’s meeting with newly elected MLAs in Kolkata on Friday, eight legislators proposed Adhikari’s name. No second name was proposed. Adhikari was elected leader of BJP’s legislature party

WHY SUVENDU ADHIKARI WAS PICKED AS CM

• He is the tallest among BJP netas in state unit, making him the obvious choice
• No one else commands the support he has among BJP legislators
• He is the only BJP MLA who has been a state minister. His experience at Nabanna will count
• Led a difficult and gruelling poll campaign from the front

SATURDAY ITINERARY

• 10am to 12 noon | Swearing in ceremony at Brigade
• 12.30pm to 1 pm | CM to reach Writers’ Buildings
• 1.30pm | Adhikari, cabinet picks to head to Vidhan Sabha

SUVENDU ADHIKARI TOP PRIORITY

• Judicial commissions to probe RG Kar, Sandeshkhali
• Act against those who laundered govt money
• Complete border fencing
• Fulfil campaign promises

SUVENDU ADHIKARI NEW MOTTO

Talk Less Work More
Govt where ‘We Matters More Than I’
Bhoy Out Bhrosa In

SILENCE ON HIS TEAM
Suvendu remained silent on cabinet portfolios after a meeting of party seniors on Friday. Dilip Ghosh said, “Whatever will happen, will happen tomorrow”

Adhikari, who credited the “historic mandate” to PM Modi's leadership, said his govt will “talk less, work more — that will be our motto as we start work”.

He added, “In our governance, there will be no ‘I’, only ‘we’. There is no place for what I or someone personally thinks in this govt. Here, the party and organisation come first and we will work accordingly.”