In a sweeping and symbolic mandate, the BJP came to power in West Bengal on Monday, winning 206 seats, securing more than two-thirds majority and ending the 15-year rule of the Trinamool Congress.Chief Minister identified the measure of victory Mamata BanerjeeWith BJP’s defeat to Suvendu Adhikari in Bhabanipur having put the party firmly in position to stake claim to form the government, the focus has now shifted to who will be chosen as the next Chief Minister of the state.As the BJP easily crossed the halfway mark in the 294-member assembly and is set to come to power for the first time in the state, the decisive decision not only signals a change in leadership but also a structural political shift, with the party expected to announce its chief ministerial face soon.BJP sources said the name of the chief minister will be decided in a meeting between PM Modi, Amit Shah and Nitin Nabin, with the party’s top leadership also expected to consider inputs from central observers and state leaders. After the final decision is taken, the party can also consider appointing the Deputy Chief Minister.Samik Bhattacharya said that the swearing-in ceremony of the new Chief Minister will be held on May 9.

Who are the main contenders for the next CM of Bengal?

Suvendu Adhikari, who retained the Nandigram seat and defeated Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhawanipur, emerged as a key figure in the BJP’s campaign. Responding to a question on whether he would be the party’s chief ministerial candidate, Adhikari said, “There is no change in me… I am not power hungry.”

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Adhikari started his political career with the Congress, becoming a councilor in Kanthi Municipality in 1995. He joined Trinamool Congress in 1998 and was elected from Contai South in 2006.He played a role in the land movement in Nandigram in 2007 against the chemical hub proposed by the Left Front government. This movement contributed to bringing Trinamool Congress to power in the state. He entered Parliament from Tamluk in 2009 and retained the seat in 2014.In 2016, he returned to state politics, winning from Nandigram on a Trinamool Congress ticket and joining the state cabinet. He left the party in December 2020 and joined BJP.He became the leader of opposition in West Bengal after defeating Banerjee in Nandigram in the 2021 assembly elections.

After BJP’s victory in West Bengal Assembly elections, Dilip Ghosh won from Kharagpur Sadar Assembly constituency.“The people of Kharagpur Sadar assembly constituency have reposed confidence in me…the public has a lot of expectations from the party as they have voted for us in huge numbers,” Ghosh was quoted as saying by ANI.

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He secured a total of 89,885 votes and defeated Trinamool Congress candidate Pradeep Sarkar by a margin of 30,506 votes.Ghosh, a former state BJP president, is associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. He was elected from Kharagpur Sadar in the 2016 assembly elections and led the party’s campaign in the state during the 2019 general elections, when the BJP secured 40.7 per cent vote share in West Bengal.

BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya is also a major contender. They are seen as having organizational experience with a focus on booth management, election strategy and cadre mobilization. His approach emphasizes on strengthening the party structure, in line with the BJP’s long-term plans in the state.

Former Rajya Sabha MP and actor Roopa Ganguly won the Sonarpur South assembly constituency by 1,28,970 votes, defeating TMC candidate Arundhati Maitra by a margin of 35,782 votes.Ganguly is also being discussed in the context of leadership. Their electoral victories and public profile contribute to the party’s reach, including among urban voters.

Agnimitra Paul retained Asansol South Assembly constituency in West Bengal, defeating Trinamool Congress candidate Tapas Banerjee by 40,839 votes.Paul, who is also the vice-president of the BJP’s West Bengal unit, is among the prominent leaders of the party in the state. Their victory margin reflects their position in the constituency.As an MLA and party spokesperson, she has been active in public outreach and media engagement, including on women-related issues. His role is part of the party’s efforts to introduce a new leadership base in the state.

Swapan Dasgupta won the Rashbehari assembly constituency with 74,123 votes, defeating Trinamool Congress candidate Debashish Kumar by a margin of 20,865 votes.Dasgupta, who holds a doctorate in philosophy from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, is a former Rajya Sabha MP.In the last assembly elections, he had contested from Tarakeswar, where he lost to TMC candidate Ramendu Singhrai by 7,484 votes.