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West Bengal Assembly Term Ends May 7: With a massive victory of more than 200 seats from the 294-member Assembly, the Bharatiya Janata Party is poised to end fifteen years of Trinamool Congress rule. The inauguration ceremony of Bengal’s first BJP government is scheduled for Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti, May 9, when Mamata Banerjee is set to resign.
The End of an Era: Assembly Term Concludes on May 7
The term of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly was set to expire on May 7, 2026. Elections took place on April 23 and 29th, 2026, to elect the 294 lawmakers in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, with the results of the vote announced on May 4, 2026.
The election witnessed a record voter participation rate of 92.93 percent—the highest turnout ever recorded for the entire state, exceeding the results of the election in 2011. Analysts from the political world attribute this rise to the heightened interest of the public in the battle between both the BJP and the prevailing Trinamool Congress, as well as the effect of the Special Intense Review (SIR) of the electoral rolls that was conducted before voting.
The SIR eliminated around 9 million people from the rolls of West Bengal, representing about 12 percent of the population. More than six million were classified as deceased or absentee, while 2.7 million were pending before tribunals. It was among the most controversial pre-election controversies that resulted in the TMC saying that the election was being influenced by political motives.
BJP’s Historic Win: A Political Earthquake in Bengal
The BJP has won a historic election with 206 seats, eliminating TMC and ending Mamata Banerjee’s rule of 15 years of West Bengal. The size of the victory caused shock waves throughout the country, since West Bengal had long been considered to be an inaccessible bastion for the Trinamool Congress.
The saffron party swept over 202 of them, winning more than a two-thirds majority and ending the Trinamool Congress’s 15-year rule. This has radically changed the political landscape in the state.
The extent of the setback was evident in the standings of the top TMC leaders. There were at least 20 ministers defeated, which included Bratya Basu, Manas Ranjan Bhunia, Shashi Panja, and Chandrima Bhattacharya. In perhaps the most symbolic outcome of the entire election, Mamata Banerjee herself was defeated in her Bhabanipur district.
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New Government Oath Likely on May 9 — Tagore Jayanti
BJP is contemplating May 9 as the date for the oath-taking ceremony for the newly elected government of West Bengal, coinciding with “25 Baishakh”—the anniversary of the birth of Rabindranath Tagore in the Bengali calendar. Administrative preparations are also taking place simultaneously.
The ceremony to take the oath of the new West Bengal Chief Minister is likely to take place prior to May 10. Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti occurs on May 9, and the party could decide to hold the ceremony on this day. ceremony. There is no official confirmation as of yet.
Before the inauguration of the new BJP government in the state, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will meet with the Governor and then offer to quit. The governor, in line with the Constitution’s provisions, is expected to request her to stay on as the chief minister in a caretaker capacity until the establishment of the next government, which will ensure continuity of administration.
It is also believed that the chief election officer will likely meet with the governor on May 6 to issue a gazette notice that details the steps to be taken following the election.
Who Will Be Bengal’s First BJP Chief Minister?
With the BJP having formed the first constitutional government of its kind in West Bengal, the next important issue is who will take the chair of Chief Minister. Numerous notable names are vying for the position.
Suvendu Adhikari is emerging as the leading contender for the chief minister’s job, widely believed to be the person who conceived the BJP’s massive victory. Adhikari beat the chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, at her Bhabanipur home by more than 15,000 votes—the biggest political shock. The former poster boy for the Trinamool Congress and a key figure in Banerjee’s anti-land acquisition campaign at Nandigram, Adhikari switched to the BJP in a decision that drastically changed West Bengal politics.
Another name that is in the spotlight could be Samik Bhattacharya, the BJP’s state president. An experienced leader who has roots in the RSS, he is a major player in expanding the base of the party across various sections of society and has been a Rajya Sabha member since 2024. Dilip Ghosh, who was a past state head, has continued to enjoy strong support among the people of the grassroots and has played a major part in the BJP’s success during both the 2019 Lok Sabha and 2021 Assembly elections.
Despite these names appearing in the media, however, they are not the only ones. The BJP has a track record of choosing its chief minister secretly until the very last minute. In some states, it has opted for more obscure leaders or first-time MLAs to fill the top position that prioritizes internal stability and organizational loyalty over seniority. West Bengal, observers note, could be a surprising selection.
What Shaped This Historic Mandate?
The election was shaped by the disputes regarding the electoral rolls and citizenship border security, as well as immigration without documentation, as well as larger discussions about the issue of identity, women’s safety, governance and security, job creation, and anti-incumbency following fifteen years under AITC rule.
The Union Home Minister Amit Shah was in Bengal for more than 15 days, hosting late-night strategy meetings and overseeing execution on the ground. He was a guest speaker at over 50 rallies and street shows, and promises like the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission for government employees, as well as enforcing law and order, were part of his campaign messages.
Key Takeaway
The Legislative Assembly of West Bengal’s term officially expires at the end of this month, May 7th, 2026. It will mark the end of Mamata Banerjee’s 3rd consecutive tenure as the Chief Minister. With the BJP having secured a record majority of 200 seats within the 294-member Assembly, the state is on the brink of forming its first BJP government.
The inauguration ceremony is set on May 9, which is Rabindranath Tagore Jayanti, a day that has a lot of cultural significance to all Bengalis. Suvendu Adhikari is the main contender for the post of chief minister. The BJP’s final announcement is yet to be made. The political climate of West Bengal has changed irrevocably.
