AGARTALA: A day before Suvendu Adhikari is set to take the oath as Chief Minister of West Bengal, former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday formally congratulated him and all other winning candidates of the state Legislative Assembly elections in a felicitation message issued by the Bangladesh Awami League.
In the press release, Hasina, who currently serves as President of the Bangladesh Awami League, extended her “sincere congratulations and best wishes” to all those who emerged victorious in the West Bengal polls, including representatives of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She conveyed “special congratulations” to Adhikari, describing him as a leader of the West Bengal unit of the BJP.
Hasina further expressed hope for “the continued success of all elected representatives” and wished for the “sustained prosperity and well-being of the people of West Bengal, as well as of India as a whole.”
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According to reports, Adhikari is scheduled to take the oath as the 9th Chief Minister of West Bengal on Saturday, 9th May 2026, at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata, along with two deputy chief ministers. Earlier on Friday, he was elected leader of the BJP Legislature Party in the presence of central observer and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, completing the final formalities ahead of the swearing-in ceremony.
A political veteran who previously served as transport minister under Mamata Banerjee before switching to the BJP in 2020, Adhikari delivered a stunning performance in the 2026 Assembly elections. He won simultaneously from both Nandigram and Bhabanipur, the latter being the seat held by outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, defeating her on her home turf.
Adhikari will become the first chief minister from the BJP to hold office in West Bengal, marking a significant shift in the state’s political landscape.
The felicitation message was released publicly on Friday by the Bangladesh Awami League from its office at 23 Bangabandhu Avenue, Dhaka.