Union Minister Amit Shah reached Kolkata to oversee the BJP legislature party meeting
May 8, 2026: Amit Shah arrived in Kolkata on Friday to chair a crucial meeting of the BJP’s newly elected MLAs as the party prepares to form its first government in West Bengal. During the legislature party meeting, BJP MLAs are expected to elect their leader, a decision that will effectively determine the party’s Chief Ministerial candidate. The oath-taking ceremony for the new government is scheduled to take place on May 9.
The political transition comes a day after the formal tenure of the outgoing government ended. The Governor officially dissolved the 17th West Bengal Legislative Assembly with effect from May 7, bringing the Assembly’s term to a close. Despite the dissolution, outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has continued to describe herself as the “Chief Minister of West Bengal” on her social media accounts, drawing political attention amid the ongoing transition.
The BJP’s victory has been described as a major electoral breakthrough in the state. The party retained all 77 seats it had won in the 2021 Assembly elections and added 130 new seats overall. Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari defeated Mamata Banerjee in the Bhabanipur constituency by over 15,000 votes. Several constituencies, including Tollygunge, Jadavpur and Indus, also witnessed significant BJP gains. With the Assembly dissolved and the new government formation process underway, political focus remains firmly on the BJP’s leadership decision and the swearing-in ceremony.