The West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has announced stringent regulations regarding cattle slaughter, invoking the 1950 Bengal Animal Slaughter Control Act and a 2018 Calcutta High Court ruling. Under the new rules, slaughtering any cattle or buffalo without a mandatory fitness certificate is prohibited. This certificate can only be issued by the Chairperson of a Municipality or the President of a Panchayat Samiti, in collaboration with a Government Veterinary Officer, confirming that the animal is over 14 years old or permanently incapacitated due to age, injury, or disease. Additionally, public slaughterhouses are banned, and slaughtering must take place at designated municipal facilities. Violators of these regulations may face imprisonment of up to six months or fines up to ₹1,000 (approximately $12 USD). The government has also established an appeals process for those denied a fitness certificate. These measures follow a decisive electoral victory for the BJP in the 2026 Assembly elections, where they secured 206 out of 294 seats, marking a significant political shift in the state.