Who will be the BJP’s Chief Minister in West Bengal?

❐ BD Digest Report

For the first time, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to come to power in the Indian state of West Bengal. As a result, attention is now gradually shifting toward the party’s candidate for the post of chief minister. Before the election, Union Home Minister Amit Shah repeatedly emphasized that a Bengali would become the chief minister of the state. His remarks were largely seen as a counter to the “outsider” narrative raised by the Trinamool Congress.

Indian media outlet The Indian Express has presented a list of potential candidates who are leading the race to become chief minister from the BJP.

Suvendu Adhikari

In all respects, Suvendu Adhikari is currently the frontrunner in the race for the chief minister’s post. He was once a key lieutenant of Mamata Banerjee. His decision to join the BJP in December 2020, just months before the 2021 election, was a major setback for the Trinamool leader. At that time, he created a major stir by defeating Mamata in Nandigram. The anti-land acquisition movement in Nandigram had played a significant role in the Trinamool Congress coming to power in 2011.

Although the BJP failed to come to power in the 2021 election and was limited to 77 seats, Suvendu Adhikari became the Leader of the Opposition. Over the next five years, he played a highly aggressive role inside the assembly against the chief minister and the Trinamool. Starting his career in Congress student politics during the golden era of the Left, Suvendu was Mamata’s right-hand man during the Nandigram movement and organized the Trinamool’s strength there.

Regarding Suvendu, it is said: “After the defeat in 2021, everyone thought the BJP would be wiped out. But at that time, Suvendu Adhikari took charge of the party, handled post-election violence—which had caused organizational damage in several districts—and stood by party workers. He naturally emerged as one of the party’s key faces and became a leader not only of East Midnapore but of the entire state.”

Samik Bhattacharya

An old RSS worker and known as a moderate face in the mold of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Samik Bhattacharya has been associated with the BJP since the time when the party was a marginal force in the state. By winning the Basirhat South seat in the 2014 by-election, he became the first elected BJP MLA in the state. If the BJP chooses a Bengali “gentleman” face, Samik Bhattacharya would be one of the best options.

Swapan Dasgupta

Former journalist Swapan Dasgupta became involved in the day-to-day activities of the West Bengal BJP ahead of the 2021 assembly elections. Known as another “gentleman” face of the party, he is quite close to the BJP’s central leadership. However, his lack of administrative experience is considered a weakness.

Dilip Ghosh

Former state BJP president Dilip Ghosh played a major role in establishing and advancing the party from 2016 onward. At that time, the party had only three MLAs in the state assembly. He is a widely popular figure. Under his leadership, the party won 18 out of 42 seats in the 2019 parliamentary elections—its best performance in the Lok Sabha polls so far. After the defeat in 2021 and the subsequent 2024 parliamentary elections, he had distanced himself somewhat from the party. However, following a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah last January, he was brought back into the mainstream. He is set to win from the Kharagpur Sadar seat.

Sukanta Majumdar

Another former state BJP president, Sukanta Majumdar, is currently a Union minister in the cabinet led by Narendra Modi. If the BJP chooses someone for the top post from its stronghold in North Bengal, he could be among the preferred choices.