The BJP Legislative Party in West Bengal has selected Suvendhu Adhikari to become its new leader. A meeting in Kolkata which included Amit Shah brought about this decision. Suvendhu Adhikari would become the new Chief Minister of the state according to Amit Shah's statement after the meeting. Tomorrow's swearing-in ceremony will probably include Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah and various Union Ministers.
From Local Politics to State Leadership
Suvendhu Adhikari was born on December 15, 1970, in Karkuli village in East Medinipur district. He completed a Master of Arts degree and comes from a politically active family. His father Sisir Adhikari worked as both a Member of Parliament and a Member of the Legislative Assembly. He held the position of Union Minister of State for Rural Development during his tenure with the UPA government.
Suvendhu started his political career at the local level. He won the councilor election in 1995 while representing the Congress party. He joined the Trinamool Congress in 1998 together with his father.
His political influence expanded steadily after that. He won the Assembly election from the Contai South constituency in 2006. He assumed the role of Contai Municipality Chairperson during which he served three years.
The Nandigram Movement and Political Rise
Suvendhu Adhikari achieved career success through the Nandigram movement which took place in 2007. The Left Front government planned to acquire approximately 10,000 acres of land in Nandigram for a Special Economic Zone during that time.
The Trinamool Congress opposed the project and organized protests across the region. Suvendhu Adhikari led many of these protests and became one of the key faces of the movement.
His popularity in West Bengal politics grew because of the movement. Mamata Banerjee assigned him the Jungle Mahal territory which comprises West Medinipur and Purulia and Bankura districts after the protests ended.
Suvendhu built his political power inside the party while he formed a close relationship with Mamata Banerjee during the next several years.
Entry into National Politics
- Suvendu Adhikari started his national political career in 2009 when he won the Tamluk Lok Sabha seat. His victory helped him gain wider recognition beyond West Bengal.
- He won the 2016 Assembly election from Nandigram and later became a minister in the Mamata Banerjee government.
- Many political observers during this time considered him to be one of the most powerful leaders in the Trinamool Congress party.
Exit from Trinamool Congress
Suvendu Adhikari lost his party position through the political changes which later transpired inside the Trinamool Congress party. Suvendhu took on greater responsibilities after senior leader Mukul Roy left the Trinamool party in 2017.
The internal conflicts inside the organization started to become known to others. Suvendhu Adhikari was reportedly unhappy with the growing influence of Abhishek Banerjee within the party leadership. The party's future direction became a subject of increasing questions.
The Sarada scam allegations created political pressure for him at the same time. Suvendhu left the Trinamool Congress in late 2020 to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
His move became one of the biggest political developments in West Bengal at the time.
Defeating Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram
- In the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, Suvendhu Adhikari contested from the Nandigram constituency as a BJP candidate. The election drew national attention because Mamata Banerjee also contested from the same seat.
- Suvendhu Adhikari defeated Mamata Banerjee in a closely watched contest. After the election, he became the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly.
- His position inside the BJP continued to grow over the following years.
West Bengal Gets Its First BJP CM
- After the latest Assembly election victory, the BJP selected Suvendhu Adhikari as its legislative leader in West Bengal. With this decision, he is set to become the first BJP CM of the state.
- The announcement by Amit Shah marks a major political moment for West Bengal. It also reflects the BJP’s expanding influence in the state’s politics.
- As Suvendhu Adhikari prepares to take office, attention will now shift toward the priorities and direction of the new government.
Tags Cloud
