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Who is the Chief Minister of West Bengal after the 2026 elections?
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Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP is the Chief Minister of West Bengal. He took oath on 9 May 2026 at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata, administered by Governor R.N. Ravi, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in attendance.
Why it matters:
- He is the first BJP Chief Minister in West Bengal's history.
- He is the state's 9th Chief Minister.
- His win ended 15 years of Trinamool Congress rule under Mamata Banerjee.
Adhikari was once a senior leader in the Trinamool Congress himself and a close associate of Mamata Banerjee. He switched to the BJP in December 2020 and defeated her in Nandigram in the 2021 election, before going on to lead the BJP's campaign in 2026.
The Chief Minister is appointed by the Governor under Article 164 of the Constitution, which is a useful point for UPSC and state PCS aspirants. For the overall picture, see our summary of the 2026 Assembly results.
