KOLKATA, MAY 8 (PTI): Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari will be the first BJP chief minister of West Bengal, marking a watershed moment in the state’s political history after decades of resistance to saffron politics.
Adhikari has been unanimously elected leader of the BJP legislature party, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Friday after a meeting of newly elected BJP MLAs and senior leaders here, formally sealing the BJP’s emphatic capture of power in Bengal in the assembly polls.
Shortly after his election, Adhikari drove to Raj Bhavan and met Governor R N Ravi to stake a claim to form the new government. The governor invited him to take the oath as chief minister at Brigade Parade Ground on May 9.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah, chief ministers of NDA-ruled states are expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony.
West Bengal is the second state to have a BJP chief minister for the first time. Last Month, Samrat Chaudhary took the oath as Bihar Chief Minister as the state got its first BJP-led government.
The elevation of 55-year-old Adhikari, once Mamata Banerjee’s closest political aide and organisational troubleshooter, represents not merely a change of government but the culmination of a dramatic political rupture that has reshaped Bengal’s political landscape over the past five years.
Addressing the legislature party meeting, Shah said, “eight proposals were received, and all of them had only one name. Adequate time was given for a second name, but no other name was proposed. Therefore, I announce Suvendu Adhikari as the chief minister of West Bengal.”
Left backs Vijay, but Tamil Nadu swearing-in still uncertain
CHENNAI, MAY 8 (AGENCIES): Tamil Nadu remained locked in political uncertainty on Friday as Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar maintained that he had not committed to a swearing-in ceremony for C. Joseph Vijay despite the latter informing him that May 9 was an auspicious day for government formation.
Lok Bhavan had not issued any official communication on the swearing-in till Friday evening.
The uncertainty deepened even as TVK gained fresh support from the Left parties. CPI and CPI(M) extended unconditional support to Vijay, taking the party’s tally with allies to 117 MLAs– including support from Congress’ five MLAs and two each from CPI and CPI (M).
However, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) still remains one short of the 118-member majority mark required to form the government.
TVK had won 108 seats in the fractured Assembly verdict, including the two seats won by Vijay, who will eventually have to vacate one constituency.
Meanwhile, the VCK delayed its decision and said it would announce its stand on Saturday morning. Reports suggested the party was seeking a power-sharing arrangement, including the deputy chief minister’s post.
The IUML, which initially appeared sympathetic to TVK’s claim, later clarified that it would continue with the DMK-led alliance.
Amid the impasse, a writ petition was filed in the Supreme Court seeking directions to the Governor to invite Vijay, as leader of the single largest party, to form the government and prove majority on the Assembly floor.