Mumbai: On Suvendu Adhikari, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis says, "This is an emotional moment for activists like me. Our government is being formed in Syama Prasad Mookerjee's state. It was painful when people used to ask us why we were not getting elected in Bengal.… pic.twitter.com/OIhjximPNP

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2026

#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar says, "It is a very happy day for all of us, and the people of Bengal are also very happy. This government will not fall; it will not be shaken. This is a permanent government. A double-engine government has been formed here,… pic.twitter.com/m5iM41dFx8

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2026

West Bengal chief minister-elect Suvendu Adhikari on Friday evening met Governor R N Ravi and officially staked claim to form the BJP government in the state for the first time.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including Dilip Ghosh, Locket Chatterjee and Tapas Roy, accompanied Adhikari to the Lok Bhavan.

The meeting came shortly after Adhikari was chosen as the leader of the BJP legislature party during a meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Meanwhile, Suvendu Adhikari on Friday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will fulfil all commitments made during the Assembly elections in the state, asserting that the party remains committed to both organisational goals and public welfare.

#WATCH | Kolkata: Leader of West Bengal BJP Legislative Party, Suvendu Adhikari says, "I express gratitude to the national president, to Amit Shah. With the blessings of the Prime Minister, I have been elected as the Leader of Legislative Party. I have received support from all… pic.twitter.com/iyfZNXdMNh

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2026

#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: BJP leader Agnimitra Paul says, "We are extremely happy that Suvendu Adhikari is our Chief Minister, who has been unanimously elected and nominated by 207 BJP MLAs. He is completely eligible because the way he has fought for the last five years… pic.twitter.com/Y0heXbacZf

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2026

#WATCH | Kolkata | BJP workers felicitate BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari after he was announced as the Leader of the West Bengal BJP Legislative Party. pic.twitter.com/oozkePBKRi

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2026

I would like to dedicate this victory to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said Suvendu Adhikari who is set to be BJP's first Bengal chief minister.

Suvendu Adhikari, who joined the BJP in December 2020 after leaving the Trinamool Congress, where he had once been a close associate of Banerjee, emerged as the clear choice. He defeated Banerjee in Nandigram in 2021 and more recently won the Bhabanipur seat, her traditional stronghold, by a margin of over 15,000 votes.

#WATCH | Kolkata | "It is the responsibility of all of us BJP workers to pursue the goal of 'Sonar Bangla' and fulfil the expectations of the people of Bengal. Today, the Kavi Guru's lines are ringing true: 'The path to a Bengal where the mind is free from fear and the head is… pic.twitter.com/COnI0fCLGN

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2026

#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: BJP MLA-elect Indranil Khan says, "Mamata Banerjee is so obsessed with power that she is unable to accept that the people of West Bengal have rejected her... These things happen when you get shocked... She has to accept the mandate of the people..." pic.twitter.com/Wn9k3zMDum

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2026

#WATCH | Kolkata | "First of all, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the people of Bengal with joined hands. 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… pic.twitter.com/1GGUwr14ag

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2026

#WATCH | Kolkata | "In a way, due to your faith, the central figure of today's celebrations and the future Chief Minister of Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, "says Union Home Minister Amit Shah as he begins his address after announcing Suvendu Adhikari's name as the Leader of the West… pic.twitter.com/7EGnailx6i

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2026

#WATCH | Kolkata | "...I announce the name of Suvendu Adhikari elected as Leader of West Bengal BJP Legislative Party," says Union Home Minister Amit Shah, appointed as the Central Observer for the election of the legislative party leader in West Bengal. https://t.co/GOQaeWB0RD pic.twitter.com/w4gmyJ7mNH

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2026

The swearing-in ceremony for the new government is scheduled for tomorrow at the historic Brigade Parade Grounds in the heart of Kolkata.

Suvendu Adhikari was formally named the Chief Minister of West Bengal on Friday, days after the BJP's resounding victory in the recently concluded assembly elections.

Dilip Ghosh, a senior BJP leader and former state president, proposed Adhikari's name at the legislature party meeting held in Kolkata earlier in the day. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was appointed the central observer for the meeting, and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the co-observer, were present.

The development marks the end of Trinamool Congress rule in West Bengal after 15 years. The BJP's victory in the polls held last month ended Mamata Banerjee's long hold on power and delivered one of the sharpest reversals in her political career.

#WATCH | Kolkata | Suvendu Adhikari elected as the Leader of West Bengal BJP Legislative Party, set to be the new CM of the state. pic.twitter.com/DCm6zezL4U

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2026

Senior BJP leader Dilip Ghosh proposes the name of West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari for the post of Chief Minister, according to reports

জয় দক্ষিণেশ্বর কালী মা 🙏
মায়ের আশীর্বাদে বাংলা এখন ‘ভয়ের যুগ’ থেকে বেরিয়ে ‘ভরসা ও উন্নয়নের যুগে’ প্রবেশ করছে।
মা কালীর কাছে বাংলা তথা দেশের প্রতিটি মানুষের কল্যাণ কামনা করি। pic.twitter.com/gOxaH9EiHD

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) May 8, 2026

#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari meets newly-elected MLAs of the party and other BJP leaders.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has been appointed as the Central Observer for the election of the legislative party leader in West Bengal, will chair the… pic.twitter.com/JdkkzYWEl3

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2026

#WATCH | Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio arrives in Kolkata, West Bengal.
He will attend the swearing-in ceremony of the new BJP government to be held tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/ShKpTShpln

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2026

The Special Investigating Team (SIT) of the West Bengal Police, which is probing the murder of Chandranath Rath, the personal assistant (PA) to Suvednu Adhikari, has successfully located and retrieved the second motorcycle involved in the crime that occurred on the night of May 6 in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas.

Initially, it was reported that while Rath was returning home on Wednesday night after attending a BJP programme, his vehicle was being followed by just one motorcycle ridden by the assailant. However, insiders from the state police said, Rath's vehicle was shadowed by two motorcycles.

While one of the two motorcycles was recovered on Thursday afternoon from an abandoned place near the scene of assassination at Doharia crossing at Madhyamgram, the other motorcycle has been traced by the investigating official, at another abandoned place near a rail-gate at Barasat, also in North 24 Parganas.

(IANS)

#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: On Akhilesh Yadav's meeting with Mamata Banerjee, BJP leader Subhash Sarkar says, "Two thieves and dacoits have come together. They do not work for the country; they have always been involved in corruption." pic.twitter.com/rzZ8l86UWx

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2026

#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal | Union Minister Suresh Gopi says, "The party expectations got crossed in the West Bengal Assembly Election results...The people of West Bengal will reap the benefits of the new BJP government..." pic.twitter.com/CgnrJmnKdO

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2026

Political leaders from the BJP and its allies on Friday backed West Bengal Governor R.N. Ravi's decision to dissolve the Legislative Assembly, asserting that the move was in line with constitutional provisions after the expiry of the Assembly's term and the electoral defeat of the 

Trinamool Congress government led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Reacting strongly to the development, BJP MP Rahul Sinha said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should have resigned after the electoral verdict went against her and the Trinamool.

"Mamata Banerjee should have had at least this much dignity. When the people's verdict came and she lost, even in Bhabanipur, she should have accepted it and resigned. Even if she did not resign, what happened? She was removed. This was such a great humiliation, but Mamata Banerjee does not realise it," Sinha told IANS.

(IANS)

VIDEO | On government formation in West Bengal, Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Vardhan Shringla says, "It will be a historic day tomorrow. Change has come to Bengal; policies related to women security, development will be implemented from tomorrow."
(Full video available on PTI Videos -… pic.twitter.com/hqBPvKLGMi

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 8, 2026

VIDEO | Kolkata: “Preparation underway in full swing at Brigade Parade ground, CMs, Deputy chief ministers from 20 states to attend Bengal's swearing-in ceremony on Saturday”, says BJP leader Subhas Sarkar.
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/aXbiahvmYl

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 8, 2026

The BJP's giantslayer, Suvendu Adhikari, appears all but certain in the race for the chief minister's post in West Bengal, waiting to succeed his political mentor Mamata Banerjee after an intense electoral face-off last month.

West Bengal blindsided Banerjee's Trinamool to elect its first BJP government this week. As the focus now turns to government formation, the latest scoop from insiders is that the state may get two deputy chief ministers to assist Adhikari.

The BJP on Friday called Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut the "joker of Indian politics" over his post addressed to US President Donald Trump on the West Bengal Assembly election results, and accused the Opposition of "besmirching" India's image internationally.

In a post on X addressed to Trump, Raut questioned reports of the US president congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the BJP's victory in West Bengal and said the polls are an "internal matter of India's federal democracy" and any external endorsement appears premature and misplaced.

The Rajya Sabha MP claimed that "serious concerns" have emerged regarding the conduct of the elections and alleged that there were complaints of "fear, intimidation and systemic pressure." 

Hitting back, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla alleged that Raut, as well as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, makes such statements in his opposition to PM Modi.

"Sanjay Raut is the joker of Indian politics. He and Rahul Gandhi have taken a 'supari' (contract) to besmirch India's image for domestic political petty battles and in Modi's opposition they oppose the country," Poonawalla said in a video post on X.

(PTI)

The Left Front will hold a protest rally here on Friday evening over alleged attacks on working people in several districts of West Bengal in the garb of victory celebrations following the BJP's decisive win in the just-concluded assembly election.

The LF constituents will hold the protest in the Esplanade area of the city's central district, a Front functionary said.

"The rally will be held to protest against the attacks on the working classes across Bengal in the name of victory celebrations," he said.

(PTI)

VIDEO | Kolkata, West Bengal: Union Home Minister Amit Shah reaches Novotel Hotel for BJP's legislature party meeting.#BengalNews #BengalPolitics #BJP
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/1hNqurDTJW

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 8, 2026

We had warned @MamataOfficial and her colleagues through various channels about BJP’s numerous venomous tactics, but neither she nor her colleagues paid heed to our warnings.
West Bengal has not given her the mandate and she should respect that.
There is no direct…

— Prakash Ambedkar (@Prksh_Ambedkar) May 8, 2026

Celebrity Bengali film, TV producer-turned-politician and former Trinamool Congress legislator, Raj Chakrabarty, has announced his permanent sabbatical from politics and has said that he will concentrate on his film career henceforth.

Chakraborty, who was the Trinamool Congress legislator from Barrackpore Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal from 2021 to 2026, was defeated by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate and senior counsel of Calcutta High Court, Kaustav Bagchi, by over 15,000 votes.

🙏 pic.twitter.com/d1z5j1tk0j

— Raj chakrabarty (@iamrajchoco) May 7, 2026

BJP West Bengal President, Samik Bhattacharya on Friday said that all preparations for the formation of the new government in the state have been completed and described the occasion as a 'festival' for the people of West Bengal.

Speaking to IANS, Samik Bhattacharya said, "The preparations for forming the government have already been completed. The oath-taking ceremony will take place tomorrow at 10 A.M. The Prime Minister, Defence Minister, Home Minister, and several Chief Ministers will attend the swearing-in ceremony. The entire BJP leadership will be present, and the government will be formed."

He further said, "Tomorrow is a festival in West Bengal. The government is being formed on the land of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, who sacrificed his life for the unity and integrity of the country."

Bhattacharya also claimed that the new government symbolises the sacrifices made by BJP workers in the state over the years.

"This government is the government of 312 BJP workers who sacrificed their lives over the last 15 years," he said.

(IANS)

VIDEO | As BJP is set to announce the new West Bengal Chief Minister today, Samajwadi Party spokesperson Udayveer Singh says, "We see this as a dark chapter in democracy. The kind of election that took place, the allegations that have been raised, and the way things are being… pic.twitter.com/Cco7diYB6m

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 8, 2026

#WATCH | Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrives in Kolkata, West Bengal
Union HM Amit Shah, who has been appointed as the Central Observer for the election of the legislative party leader in West Bengal, will chair the Legislative Party meeting today. pic.twitter.com/xI2wqJUZUO

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2026

VIDEO | BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) reaches Kolkata Airport to welcome Home Minister Amit Shah.
HM Shah will meet BJP's newly elected MLAs and attend the legislature party meeting as central observer.
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/xKSfv6cjRn

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 8, 2026

VIDEO | West Bengal: Dhak artists perform at Kolkata Airport ahead of arrival of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The BJP legislature party is scheduled to meet in Kolkata today in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to formally elect its leader, with Suvendu Adhikari… pic.twitter.com/G6JL8wYP3g

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 8, 2026

VIDEO | Patna: JD(U) spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan on BJP to announce new West Bengal CM today, says, "People’s expectations have risen significantly. For the first time since Independence, the Bharatiya Janata Party is set to form the government in West Bengal. The public has given… pic.twitter.com/IlH0bQucwQ

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 8, 2026

Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be in Kolkata on Friday to chair a crucial meeting of the BJP's newly elected MLAs to decide the party's chief minister for West Bengal, in a key step ahead of government formation in the state.

The meeting of the BJP legislature party will determine the leader of the house, a process that will effectively finalise the next Chief Minister. Senior central leaders are overseeing the selection process as the party moves to form its first government in the state.

The development comes at a politically significant moment after the formal tenure of the previous West Bengal government ended on Thursday. The Governor issued a notification dissolving the 17th West Bengal Legislative Assembly, officially bringing the Assembly's existence to a close as of May 7.

(IANS)

Mamata Banerjee is officially now a "former Chief Minister" of West Bengal, following Governor RN Ravi's announcement of the dissolution of the state Legislative Assembly, which also means the automatic end of the previous state Cabinet led by her.

The Governor announced this on Thursday evening. However, in her official social media handles (both X and Facebook), she continues to retain the 'Chief Minister of West Bengal' information.

A click on the about section of both her X and Facebook handles shows her identity as -- 'Founder Chairperson All India Trinamool Congress. Honourable Chief Minister, West Bengal'.

(IANS)

The BJP legislature party is scheduled to meet in Kolkata on Friday in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to formally elect its leader, with Suvendu Adhikari emerging as the frontrunner to become the party's first chief minister in West Bengal.

The BJP registered a historic victory in the just-held assembly elections, ending the TMC's 15-year rule and dealing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee one of the biggest setbacks of her political career.

Though the BJP has not officially announced its chief ministerial choice, Adhikari has emerged as the frontrunner after securing two of the most politically significant victories -- retaining Nandigram, where he defeated Banerjee in 2021, and now wresting Bhabanipur, long regarded as the TMC supremo's pocket borough.

(PTI)

#WATCH | Kolkata: BJP MP Rahul Sinha says, "The Governor has dismissed the previous government. Currently, the government is under the Governor's administration, and tomorrow morning's swearing-in ceremony will be attended by everyone from the Prime Minister to the Home… pic.twitter.com/FNlzACJZqx

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2026

VIDEO | On government formation in West Bengal, Telangana BJP chief N Ramchander Rao says, "This is a constitutional procedure followed after elections. Since the Assembly has been dissolved, a new government has to be formed for a five year term. The Governor will invite the… pic.twitter.com/aEvLiopINy

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 8, 2026

VIDEO | Kolkata: Preparations underway at Brigade Parade Ground for the swearing-in ceremony of West Bengal's new Chief Minister as BJP gears up to form its first government in the state.
The BJP secured a landslide victory in the recently concluded elections in West Bengal,… pic.twitter.com/CrNy3v2ZLe

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 8, 2026

#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal | On SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav meeting Mamata Banerjee, BJP leader Dilip Ghosh says, "...Mamata Banerjee is in a state of illusion and people are coming and filling her head with false hopes, she isn't able to understand this." pic.twitter.com/lkmvD6OwIi

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2026

#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal | BJP MLA-elect Tapas Roy says, "...West Bengal has now become free from the sinful TMC government. The BJP will remove hooliganism from West Bengal..." pic.twitter.com/ThQWQDNJ0N

— ANI (@ANI) May 8, 2026

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav challenged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to release CCTV footage of voting in the West Bengal assembly polls. He also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of covering its "lies" by telling another one.

Yadav invoked the incidents reported during the Rampur bypolls in 2022, where he alleged that voters were stopped from coming out to exercise their franchise.

Speaking after a meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in Kolkata, Yadav said, "BJP's lies are like layerings of Soan Papdi. They put another layer of lies on top of one layer. All the videos are in the archives. During the Rampur elections, they didn't let any voter come out. Is the Election Commission blind?"

He further questioned the Election Commission and demanded transparency in the polling processes.

"The BJP people are very scared of CCTV and cameras. If the Election Commission is impartial, then show the CCTV video of the voting in Kundarki to the public. If the proceedings of the Supreme Court can be live, then why can't the CCTV of Bengal's voting and counting be shown?" he said.

(ANI)

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that people in West Bengal voted under pressure during the elections and accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of undermining democratic processes in the state.

Addressing reporters in Kolkata, Yadav claimed that democracy had been weakened through excessive pressure and the large-scale deployment of central forces during the polls.

The Samajwadi Party president further alleged that the BJP had "damaged democracy" and could not tolerate the rise of women in politics.

"What has happened in Bengal. A way has been found to destroy democracy. No one has probably damaged democracy as much as the BJP has. They can never see a woman rising. Voting has indeed taken place here, but people have voted more under pressure than of their own will," Yadav said.

(ANI)

The political temperature in West Bengal soared after Governor RN Ravi on Thursday dissolved the Legislative Assembly ahead of the formation of a new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, even as the state witnessed post-poll violence, including the murder of BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's personal assistant Chandranath Rath.

The dissolution of the Assembly formally cleared the way for the BJP's first government in West Bengal after the party's sweeping victory in the 2026 Assembly elections, where the BJP won 207 seats while the Trinamool Congress (TMC) was reduced to 80 after 15 years of being in power.

According to BJP sources, a meeting of newly elected party MLAs is likely to be held on Friday to elect the legislative party leader ahead of the swearing-in ceremony.

The dramatic political transition, however, unfolded against a backdrop of explosive allegations, emotional appeals, violent clashes, and accusations of "murder of democracy" from the Opposition camp.

(ANI)

Governor RN Ravi has dissolved the West Bengal State Legislative Assembly with effect from May 7 after completion of its term, according to an official notification.

The current assembly was constituted in May 2021 after the Trinamool Congress, under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, returned to power for the third consecutive term in the state.

The dissolution marks the formal completion of the tenure of the outgoing assembly, following the recently concluded two-phase elections.

The notification was issued by the Department of Parliamentary Affairs.

(PTI)

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said West Bengal will get a stable and good government, which will be formed by the BJP for the first time in the state.

Majhi, who was appointed as the party's co-observer for West Bengal, said, "The Bengal elections result came in favour of the BJP. It is a great opportunity to work under Union Home Minister Amit Shah as a co-observer." The chief minister said that talking to the central leadership, including Shah, on the Bengal matter was certainly a "big opportunity" for him.

"We will hold discussions, and Bengal will get a stable and good government," he said.

The BJP secured a landslide victory in the recently concluded elections in West Bengal, bagging 207 seats in the 294-seat assembly and ending the 15-year rule of the TMC government led by Mamata Banerjee.

(PTI)