Kolkata, May 12, 2026: Just days after taking oath as Chief Minister of West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari has hit the ground running with a series of swift administrative and security decisions. The developments have sent ripples through the Trinamool Congress (TMC) camp, particularly for prominent leaders including Abhishek Banerjee, Mahua Moitra, and Sayani Ghosh.
Adhikari, who assumed office on May 9, 2026, at a grand ceremony at Brigade Parade Ground in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior BJP leaders, is positioning his government as one focused on “clean governance” and correcting the “wrongs of the past decade.”
Key Early Initiatives by the New CM
In his first cabinet meeting and subsequent directives, the Adhikari government has announced several notable steps:
- Security Review: The government has initiated the withdrawal of Z+ and enhanced security cover for several TMC leaders, including MP Abhishek Banerjee. Reports indicate phased removal of pilot cars and additional personnel.
- Central Agency Actions: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and other agencies have intensified probes into various cases linked to the previous regime, with fresh actions reported against certain TMC functionaries.
- Support for Political Violence Victims: The state government has announced financial aid and legal assistance to families of over 300 BJP workers allegedly killed during TMC’s rule.
- Policy Overhauls: Implementation of long-pending central welfare schemes such as Ayushman Bharat and PM Ujjwala, adoption of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, transfer of border land to BSF for fencing, and removal of several TMC-appointed officials and board heads.
- Symbolic and Administrative Changes: Dropping of the controversial “Biswa Bangla” logo, strict enforcement against illegal mining, cow smuggling, and road blockades, along with directives for a state-wide census.
These moves have been welcomed by BJP supporters as decisive “Nayak mode” governance, while the TMC has described them as politically motivated vendettas aimed at harassing opposition leaders.
TMC Leaders on Edge
The spotlight is particularly on Abhishek Banerjee, who faces multiple ongoing investigations, and senior TMC faces like Mahua Moitra and Sayani Ghosh, who are also reportedly feeling the heat amid the changed political landscape. Some TMC leaders have reportedly begun making conciliatory statements or taking a softer line following the party’s electoral defeat.
The 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections marked a historic shift, with the BJP ending TMC’s long-standing rule in what the new government claims was a relatively violence-free poll. Mamata Banerjee’s party, however, continues to accuse the BJP of misusing central agencies to settle political scores.
Political observers note that West Bengal remains deeply polarized. The coming weeks are expected to bring further clarity as the Adhikari government rolls out more policies, while the opposition gears up for its response both inside and outside the assembly.
As the dust settles on the power shift, all eyes remain on how the new Chief Minister balances governance reforms with the inevitable political battles ahead.
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