Who Will the BJP Appoint as Chief Minister After Its Resounding Victory in West Bengal? These Five Names—Including Suvendu—Lead the Race

New Delhi: The BJP has achieved a resounding victory in West Bengal, and for the first time in the state’s history, the ‘Lotus’ has bloomed. Consequently, the biggest question now is: into whose hands will the BJP entrust the reins of Bengal following this victory, and who will become the next Chief Minister (CM)?

Notably, the BJP typically does not announce a Chief Ministerial face during state elections. In Bengal, too, Prime Minister Narendra Modi served as the party’s greatest strength. He addressed over 20 rallies during the election campaign.

Over the past month, PM Modi appeared to have fully immersed himself in the Bengali ethos. He sampled ‘Jhalmuri’—Bengal’s famous snack—and even released audio messages in the Bengali language. In response, the people of Bengal placed their full faith in ‘Brand Modi’ and voted overwhelmingly for the BJP.

To firmly establish its presence in Bengal, the BJP seeks to select a powerful Chief Minister. During the election campaign, Union Home Minister Amit Shah repeatedly asserted that if the BJP were to come to power, the Chief Minister would undoubtedly be a ‘Bengali.’ Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar also claimed that Bengal’s next Chief Minister would be a ‘non-vegetarian.’

Will the BJP Bet on a Female Chief Minister?
Throughout its election campaign, the BJP prioritized women’s safety. Consequently, there is speculation that the party might appoint a woman as Chief Minister. Currently—with the exception of Delhi—the BJP does not have a female Chief Minister in any state.

To further bolster its pro-women image, the BJP could potentially take a gamble on a female CM in Bengal. The names of Agnimitra Paul and Roopa Ganguly have emerged as frontrunners in the race for the Chief Minister’s post. Roopa Ganguly is the very actress who became a household name after portraying the character of Draupadi in B.R. Chopra’s epic series, Mahabharat.

Suvendu Adhikari
Suvendu Adhikari is one of the top contenders for the post of Chief Minister. Once a close confidant of Mamata Banerjee, Suvendu Adhikari possesses a strong grassroots connect and a robust organizational network. In 2021, he earned the title of ‘Giant Killer’ by defeating Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram. However, his involvement in the Narada sting case could potentially serve as a hurdle on his path to becoming Chief Minister.

Dilip Ghosh
Former State President Dilip Ghosh is credited with elevating the BJP to the status of the principal opposition party in 2021. Although he no longer holds the presidency, his influence in Bengal politics remains undiminished. Consequently, he could emerge as a strong contender in the race for the Bengal Chief Ministership.

Samik Bhattacharya
Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya is perceived within the party as a leader who believes in taking everyone along. Working from behind the scenes, he has played a pivotal role in the expansion of the BJP. Given this, the party could potentially entrust the leadership of Bengal to him.

Agnimitra Paul
A fashion designer by profession, Agnimitra Paul is known as one of the BJP’s most outspoken leaders. She successfully retained her Asansol South constituency in the recent elections. Should the BJP decide to appoint a female Chief Minister in the state, Agnimitra could well be their choice.

Roopa Ganguly
A former Rajya Sabha MP and the current MLA from Sonarpur South, Roopa Ganguly has also worked extensively at the grassroots level during her tenure as the President of the party’s Women’s Wing (Mahila Morcha). Given her popularity, the BJP might consider appointing her as the Chief Minister of Bengal.

Nisith Pramanik’s name has also surfaced in the race for the Chief Minister’s post. However, it now remains to be seen into whose hands the formidable duo of Prime Minister Modi and Amit Shah will ultimately entrust the leadership of Bengal.