Selecting Chief Minister Of West Bengal Is A Delicate Task For BJP Leadership

By Dr. Gyan Pathak

BJP won the West Bengal election with the most recognizable face leading from the grassroots to the state level against Mamata led TMC is Suvendu Adhikari. He also defeated TMC supremo CM Mamata Banerjee from Bhabanipur Vidhan Sabha constituency. Naturally, he is seen as the most suitable candidate for Chief Minister post by common people, but not by the BJP’s state and central leadership, many of them betrayed some unspecified internal discomfort ever since the election results were announced on May 4. Suvendu Adhikari himself have contributed in the internal discomfort by making some rash statements, of which the most damaging to the party, both domestically and internationally, was his saying that he will work for the Hindus of Nandigram, because they have voted for him, while Muslims voted for TMC.

Apart for Bhabanipur Vidhan Sabha Constituency, Suvendu also won Nandigram Vidhan Sabha Constituency. He had defeated Mamata Banerjee from Nandigram in 2021, after he had switched over to BJP from TMC. He was a minister and deputy in the CM Mamata led government until he left her in 2020. After winning in 2021, he became leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Vidhan Sabha, and continuously opposed Mamata and her government. He was the chief architect of an escalated anti-establishment sentiment against Mamata, which ultimately unseated her from the power in 2026.

BJP’s central and state leadership recognize his contribution in party’s win, but they have been feeling a deep discomfort too on account of his statements. For example his recent statement in relation to his win in Nandigram has just reversed Modi’s “Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas” (With all, development for all) slogan to “Jo Hamare Sath, Hum Uske Saath” (Who is with us, we are with them). He did not stop at that. He continued – We had said to save Hindus and the Constitution. I talked about nationalist Muslims. You all sloganeered – Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas. Then Suvendu said with folded hand – We will not say all that from now.

When everybody is criticizing Mamata Banerjee for saying that she will not resign from the Chief Minister’s post, the BJP leadership is busy in assessing the pros and cons of not making Suvendu chief minister of the state, chiefly on account of the internal discomfort that Suvendu has created by his statements. Choosing a chief minister who says that he will work for those who votes for him, is not only unethical but also against Modi’s slogan of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas”. It is also against the Constitution of India. How can BJP legitimately choose a person a chief minister who says he will work for the community who voted for him, referring a community that not voted for him?

What goes in favour of Suvendu Adhikari is that he has strong backing of some central BJP leaders. He has also the largest support base in the state from the grassroots level to the state level rank and file in comparison to any other state BJP leader. Therefore, the central leadership will run a risk if they antagonize him by not making him chief minister of the state.

However, there are many BJP leaders who do not like Suvendu Adhikari to be chief minister of the state on account of his arrogance. They are lobbying that he must not be made chief minister of the state. This has made to rethink the central leadership before announcing any name for the post of chief minister. A legislative party meeting is scheduled to be held on May 8 in the evening, which will decide its chief minister, in the presence for central BJP leadership.

In the meantime, an RSS-BJP lobby is asserting that Suvendu is new entrant in the party, and hence he must not be made chief minister. Some old RSS-BJP leader should be made chief minister of the state. They have proposed several names for the post. One of the suggestions made before the central BJP leadership is that a woman should replace the woman chief minister Mamata Banerjee. This suggestion has some attraction because PM Narendra Modi and the BJP has always been talking about Nari Shakti, and recently they tried to push Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha.

The most important issue before the central BJP leadership is that how to keep the Bengali diverse electorate in favour of the party until the Lok Sabha election 2029. Reversing “Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas” may prove counterproductive for the party. Many BJP leaders in the state and at the central level have already distanced themselves from Suvendu’s statement of working for those who voted them.

The other point of consideration for the central BJP leadership is that a West Bengal chief minister typically needs support beyond its core vote bank on account of cultural diversity in the state. Aggressive communal messaging may be beneficial during elections, but is not good during party’s rule. BJP leadership also wants not to give any political tool in the hands of TMC supremo Mamata in the state, INDIA bloc across India, and to the International community. They may like a less controversial face as chief minister, but then there is a risk of stiff opposition from the Suvendu Adhikari’s support base among BJP’s rank and file. (IPA Service)