BJP Nominates Suvendu Adhikari As Leader Of Opposition In West Bengal Assembly

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has been nominated as the Leader of Opposition in West Bengal legislative assembly after defeating incumbent Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from the high-profile Nandigram constituency.

The saffron party had appointed Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and national general secretary Bhupender Yadav as the central observers to elect the leader of the party’s 77 MLAs.

According to an Indian Express report, BJP’s national vice-president Mukul Roy and Madarihat MLA Manoj Tigga along with Adhikari were the frontrunners to claim the coveted spot.

Suvendu’s victory against CM Banerjee in Nandigram has been termed by many as a face-saver for the BJP in an otherwise underwhelming performance in the assembly polls.

“Overwhelmed to have been nominated by my Party as the Leader of Opposition in the Bidhan Sabha. I thank the @BJP4India & @BJP4Bengal Leadership for reposing their faith in me. Will hold the Govt accountable and defend the rights and interests of the great People of West Bengal,” Adhikari wrote on his official Twitter handle.

Adhikari held plum portfolios in Banerjee’s cabinet before switching over to the saffron camp amidst much fanfare in December 2020.

The BJP might look to draw fresh strategies for their preparations towards the 2026 assembly elections in the state. In that context, Suvendu Adhikari’s promotion as the Leader of Opposition holds importance for the future of the state’s political landscape.