With the Mamata Banerjee government completing its five-year term on May 7, Governor RN Ravi on Thursday dissolved the West Bengal assembly.
Mamata had earlier said she would not resign, alleging irregularities in the recent assembly elections. However, with the governor dissolving the assembly, she is not the chief minister anymore.
According to an official statement, RN Ravi said, "I hereby dissolve the Legislative Assembly of West Bengal with effect from 7th May, 2026."
The new BJP government, which is the first in West Bengal, will be sworn in at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata on May 9 at 10 am. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP national president Nitin Nabin and chief ministers of BJP-ruled states are expected to attend the event.
Though Suvendu Adhikari is seen a frontrunner to lead the government, the BJP has not officially revealed who will be the new Bengal chief minister.
Names of BJP president Samik Bhattacharya and Union minister Sukanta Majumdar are also doing rounds ahead of the oath-taking ceremony.
Ahead of the swearing-in, BJP's MLA-elects will meet on May 8. The saffron party is likely to announce its new CM after the meeting.
The BJP secured 207 seats in the 294-member assembly, ending the 15-year rule of the Trinamool Congress.
However, the cold-blooded murder of Chandrakant Rath, a close aide of Adhikari, has cast a shadow on the celebrations of the BJP victory and the preparations for the swearing-in.
Adhikari said Rath, an Indian Air Force veteran, was killed because he was close to him and because he defeated Mamata in Bhabanipur. "His only fault was that he was Suvendu Adhikari's personal assistant. Five bullets were fired at him to ensure his death," Adhikari said.
