Desk Correspondent , Kolkata - Suvendu Adhikari was on Friday elected as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislature party leader in West Bengal, paving the way for him to take oath as the state's next Chief Minister. The decision was taken at a crucial meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Kolkata. The oath-taking ceremony for Adhikari and newly elected BJP MLAs is scheduled for Saturday, May 9, at the Brigade Parade Ground.

Addressing party leaders, Shah congratulated the elected MLAs and Adhikari, highlighting the challenges faced during the polls. "The atmosphere that had been created since the Communist era was deepened by Mamata Banerjee, and it was almost impossible to cast your vote there... I am very thankful for the huge victory that the people of Bengal have given us by trusting BJP and our leader, Narendra Modi," Shah said. The BJP's historic win in the recently concluded assembly elections ended the Trinamool Congress (TMC)'s 15-year rule under Mamata Banerjee. Bengal Governor RN Ravi had dissolved the state assembly on Thursday to facilitate the new government formation.

Adhikari, a prominent face in Bengal politics who switched from TMC to BJP in 2020, is credited with strengthening the party's grassroots presence. His elevation marks a significant shift in the state's political landscape after years of TMC dominance marked by allegations of violence and electoral irregularities. The development comes amid celebrations in BJP circles and expectations of major policy changes focusing on development, law and order, and industrial growth in the state. Party workers and supporters are gearing up for the grand oath-taking event tomorrow.