Suvendu Adhikari is poised to become the new Chief Minister of West Bengal, marking a historic moment for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as it forms its first government in the state. Adhikari, who represents the Nandigram Assembly seat, has won this position for the third consecutive time, having previously made headlines by defeating Mamata Banerjee in the 2021 elections. His political journey began in the mid-1990s when he became a councillor in Contai Municipality, and he later played a pivotal role in the anti-land acquisition movement in Nandigram in 2007. Initially a member of the Indian National Congress, he joined the All India Trinamool Congress in 1998 before making a significant shift to the BJP in 2020. This transition was crucial for the BJP as it sought to establish a strong foothold in West Bengal. Adhikari's family has a long-standing political legacy, with his father, Sisir Adhikari, being a notable figure in state politics. Following the BJP's loss in the 2021 Assembly elections, he became the Leader of the Opposition and has since emerged as the party's leading face in West Bengal, culminating in their success in the 2026 elections.