Adhikari, who famously defected from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to the BJP ahead of the 2021 elections and defeated Mamata Banerjee in the Nandigram constituency, was chosen as Chief Minister after the BJP’s sweeping win in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. His appointment marked the end of Mamata’s 15-year dominance over Bengal’s politics and the beginning of what the BJP is calling a “new era of development and accountability.”

Key Policy Reversals

Among the most significant reversals is the review of the state’s Duare Sarkar (Government at Your Doorstep) programme, which was a cornerstone of Mamata’s welfare delivery model. Adhikari has ordered an audit of the scheme, alleging widespread irregularities and fake beneficiaries. “Public money was being looted under the guise of welfare,” Adhikari told reporters. “Every rupee spent by the previous government will be accounted for.”

The new government has also moved to restructure the state’s education and employment policies. The controversial school recruitment process, which was mired in allegations of corruption and resulted in multiple court cases and arrests, is being overhauled. Adhikari has promised fresh recruitment examinations conducted through transparent, centralised systems.

Other reversals include changes to the state’s approach to political rallies and public gatherings, the renaming of government schemes launched under TMC branding, and the review of land allotments and contracts awarded during the previous government’s tenure. The BJP government has also signalled a harder line on law and order, with the Home Department issuing directives to police to crack down on political violence and syndicate-raj — the extortion networks that plagued parts of the state.

Mamata’s Response

Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is now the Leader of the Opposition, has hit back sharply at what she calls “vendetta politics.” In a press conference on June 9, she accused the BJP government of “dismantling welfare programmes that benefited millions of poor Bengalis” and warned of mass protests if development schemes are scrapped without adequate alternatives.

“The people of Bengal gave them a mandate to govern, not to destroy,” Mamata said. “Every scheme we launched — Kanyashree, Sabuj Sathi, Duare Sarkar — was designed to help the poorest of the poor. If they touch these schemes, the people will rise.”

The TMC, which has been weakened by the defection of 20 of its MPs to the NDA last week, is struggling to mount an effective opposition. However, political analysts note that Mamata’s personal popularity remains significant, and the BJP government risks a backlash if policy reversals are seen as hurting welfare delivery rather than improving accountability.

The Adhikari Factor

Shubhendu Adhikari’s rise to the Chief Minister’s chair is itself a remarkable political story. The son of veteran TMC leader Sisir Adhikari, Shubhendu was once among Mamata’s closest lieutenants before a dramatic falling-out in late 2020. His defection to the BJP, which he attributed to the TMC’s “corruption, dynasty politics, and appeasement policies,” was seen as a major blow to Mamata’s electoral prospects in 2021.

Though the BJP lost the 2021 election despite Adhikari’s contribution, the party steadily built its base in Bengal over the next five years. The 2026 election saw a combination of anti-incumbency, organisational expansion, and the consolidation of Hindu votes deliver a decisive majority for the BJP, with Adhikari emerging as the consensus choice for CM thanks to his grassroots connect and aggressive political style.

Challenges Ahead

Governing West Bengal will not be easy. The state faces significant economic challenges, including high unemployment, a struggling manufacturing sector, and fiscal constraints. The TMC government’s welfare spending, while popular, has been criticised for straining state finances. Adhikari will need to balance fiscal discipline with welfare delivery — a challenge that has tripped up many state governments.

The political situation is also volatile. West Bengal has a history of political violence, and the transition from TMC to BJP rule has already seen reports of tensions in several districts. Adhikari has promised “zero tolerance for violence” but will need to ensure that his security apparatus does not become a tool for political retribution.

Also Read

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• West Bengal Assembly Elections 2026 Phase 2: Over 142 Constituencies Vote as Mamata Banerjee Faces Suvendu Adhikari in Bhabanipur Showdown
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For now, Bengal watches and waits. The first 100 days of the Adhikari government will be critical in setting the tone — and determining whether the new CM can deliver on his promise of transformation without repeating the mistakes of the regime he replaced.

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Breakdown of the New Cabinet

Of the 35 newly sworn-in MLAs, 13 were inducted as cabinet ministers, three as ministers of state with independent charge, and 19 as ministers of state. This structure reflects a carefully calibrated balance of regional representation, caste dynamics, and factional interests within the Bengal BJP, which came to power in the state for the first time following its decisive victory in the 2026 assembly elections.

The expansion follows the initial swearing-in on May 9, when only six BJP leaders — including CM Suvendu Adhikari, Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, and three others — took oath to form the core of the government. The limited initial cabinet was a tactical decision, allowing Adhikari and the BJP central leadership time to assess competing demands from various factions, regions, and community groups before making portfolio allocations.

Notable inclusions in the expanded cabinet reportedly include senior BJP leaders who had been instrumental in the party’s ground-level campaign in Bengal, legislators from key regions including North Bengal, the Jangalmahal belt, and the Matua-dominated areas of South Bengal, as well as representatives from scheduled caste, scheduled tribe, and minority communities.

Political Significance

The cabinet expansion is significant on multiple levels. For the BJP, it represents the transition from electoral victory to functional governance in a state where the party had been in opposition for years. A full council of ministers is essential for the day-to-day administration of a state with a population exceeding 100 million, and the delay in expansion had been cited by opposition parties as evidence that the BJP was struggling to manage its internal dynamics in Bengal.

The composition of the cabinet also sends important signals about the BJP’s governance priorities and its strategy for consolidating its position in Bengal’s complex political landscape. By including legislators from North Bengal — a region where the BJP has strong support among communities that have historically felt neglected by Kolkata-centric governments — the party is signalling that it intends to address regional imbalances that have long fuelled political discontent.

The inclusion of leaders from the Jangalmahal tribal belt (Bankura, Purulia, Jhargram, West Midnapore) is similarly significant. This region, which witnessed Maoist insurgency in the 2000s and has been a swing area between the TMC and BJP, will be closely watching whether the new ministers deliver on promises of development, road connectivity, and employment that the BJP made during the election campaign.

TMC’s Deepening Crisis

The cabinet expansion comes at a time when the opposition Trinamool Congress is facing one of its worst internal crises. In a stunning development, 60 of the TMC’s 80 MLAs reportedly skipped a meeting called by party supremo Mamata Banerjee, indicating a severe erosion of party discipline and loyalty following the party’s unexpected loss of power.

The TMC’s troubles have been compounded by allegations of attacks on its leaders, including party MP Abhishek Banerjee, who was allegedly assaulted during a visit to party workers affected by post-poll violence. Mamata Banerjee herself led a sit-in protest in Kolkata, accusing the BJP of targeting TMC workers and attempting to intimidate the opposition.

Political analysts note that the TMC’s difficulty in keeping its legislative party together is partly a consequence of the party’s historically centralised power structure, which revolved around Mamata Banerjee’s personal authority. With the party out of power for the first time since 2011, the incentive structures that kept the party together — access to government resources, patronage networks, and the promise of political advancement — have been disrupted, leading to fragmentation.

Governance Challenges Ahead

The Suvendu Adhikari government faces a formidable set of challenges as it settles into governance with a full cabinet. West Bengal’s economy, which grew at approximately 7 percent annually during the TMC’s tenure, is showing signs of strain in sectors including manufacturing, small business, and agriculture. The state’s fiscal position is constrained by high debt levels, limited own-tax revenue growth, and significant expenditure commitments on social welfare schemes that the previous government had introduced.

Law and order remains a pressing concern, with reports of post-poll violence, political intimidation, and communal tensions requiring firm but balanced handling by the new administration. The BJP’s central leadership has repeatedly emphasised that the Bengal government must demonstrate good governance and development delivery rather than engaging in political vendetta against the TMC, a message that will be tested as the new ministers take charge of their respective departments.

The industrial policy challenge is particularly acute. Bengal, which was once India’s industrial powerhouse, has seen a decline in manufacturing investment over decades. The BJP has promised to revive the state’s industrial sector by improving the ease of doing business, attracting investment, and resolving long-standing issues related to land acquisition, labour regulations, and infrastructure. Whether the expanded cabinet can translate these promises into concrete action will determine the government’s credibility.

Education, healthcare, and rural development are other priority areas where the new ministers will need to demonstrate quick wins while also laying the groundwork for longer-term structural improvements. The BJP’s performance in governance in Bengal will be closely watched nationally, as it will influence the party’s narrative ahead of future elections in other states and the 2029 general elections.

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