Who is Suvendu Adhikari? Ex-TMC leader and BJP giant killer who defeated Mamata twice, now Bengal CM-designate

Suvendu Adhikari was on Friday elected leader of the BJP legislature party in West Bengal, formally paving the way for him to become the state’s first BJP chief minister. Party sources quoted by PTI said Adhikari’s name was proposed during the BJP legislature party meeting in Kolkata and later announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the presence of newly elected BJP MLAs and senior party leaders. The swearing-in ceremony of the new BJP government is scheduled to be held at Brigade Parade Ground on May 9. In the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, the BJP swept to power with 207 seats, comfortably crossing the majority mark of 148 in the 294-member Assembly, while the Trinamool Congress was reduced to 80 seats after 15 consecutive years in power.

Bhabanipur, Mamata Banerjee’s political stronghold since 2011, witnessed one of its most dramatic contests during the 2026 West Bengal Assembly election. After 13 rounds of counting, Banerjee had been leading by 5,349 votes, while BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari steadily closed the gap. Following a tense 20-round counting process marked by repeated lead changes, Adhikari received 1,27,301 votes, and eventually defeated Banerjee in Bhabanipur by 15,105 votes, handing the Trinamool Congress one of its biggest electoral setbacks in the constituency.

Born in 1970 in Karkuli, Adhikari entered politics through the Congress before joining the All India Trinamool Congress in 1998. He emerged as a key organiser during the Singur and Nandigram movements, which weakened the CPI(M)-led Left Front and paved the way for TMC’s historic 2011 victory. Over time, he became one of the most influential leaders in the party before defecting to the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2020.

The contest carries strong political symbolism. In 2021, Banerjee contested from Nandigram, Adhikari’s stronghold, and lost by 1,956 votes. In 2026, the roles have reversed, with Adhikari challenging her in Bhabanipur. In Nandigram, Adhikari also secured victory against TMC candidate Pabitra Kar by a margin of 9,665 votes.

Adhikari’s resume includes serving as the state’s Transport Minister and a Member of Parliament. However, his departure from the TMC was precipitated by internal friction and the rising influence of other party members. Since joining the BJP, he has successfully positioned himself as a ‘son of the soil’ who understands the TMC’s internal machinery, using that knowledge to dismantle their organisational strongholds.

The 55 year old leader's shift to the BJP came ahead of the 2021 Assembly elections, where he played a central organisational role. The TMC won 213 seats, while the BJP secured 77, but Adhikari defeated Banerjee in Nandigram, marking a major political turning point. He currently serves as Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal.

Adhikari, though unmarried, belongs to a politically active family, with his father Sisir Adhikari and brother Dibyendu Adhikari both holding elected positions. This network has strengthened his organisational reach, particularly in eastern districts such as Purba Medinipur.

Across West Bengal, counting trends indicate a strong BJP performance overall, with the party leading in multiple seats. Within this broader shift, the Bhabanipur contest has emerged as a focal point, symbolising the direct electoral clash between Banerjee and Adhikari and underscoring his position as a key figure in the state’s evolving political landscape.