Kolkata, May 8 In his first address after being chosen as the leader of the BJP legislative party and the Chief Minister of West Bengal’s first BJP-led government since Independence, Suvendu Adhikari emphasised that the new administration would function through collective leadership rather than centralised decision-making.
“It will not be just me running this government. We will govern together,” Adhikari said while addressing a meeting on Friday.
The meeting, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, was attended by newly elected BJP legislators of 2027, during which Adhikari was unanimously elected as the leader of the BJP legislative party in the West Bengal Assembly, paving the way for him to become the next Chief Minister.
Political analysts believe Adhikari’s emphasis on “collective leadership” also carried an indirect message that his Cabinet would operate differently from the previous administration under Mamata Banerjee, where most key administrative decisions reportedly required her direct approval.
During his speech, Adhikari also highlighted the priorities of the incoming government.
“Our focus will be on identifying and taking legal action against corruption and misuse of public funds, delivering justice to those who suffered injustice and atrocities over the past 15 years, and ensuring transparent and corruption-free public services,” he stated.
Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the gathering and urged the 207 newly elected BJP MLAs to honour the trust reposed in them by the people of West Bengal through the party’s sweeping electoral victory.
“There was an atmosphere of fear during Mamata Banerjee’s tenure. Despite that, the people of West Bengal placed their faith in us and delivered this mandate. I sincerely thank them,” Shah said.
He further urged party leaders to work tirelessly to fulfil the aspirations of the people.
“Do not let this trust be broken. It is the responsibility of every one of you. We must ensure that we serve the people of West Bengal with complete dedication,” Shah added
