Kolkata, May 8 (BNP): Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Kolkata on Friday to chair a crucial Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Legislature Party meeting for the selection of the Chief Minister in West Bengal following the party’s historic victory in the Assembly elections.
Amit Shah has been appointed as the Central Observer for the election of the BJP legislative party leader, while Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has been named as the co-observer for the process. The high-level meeting is expected to finalise the BJP’s choice for the top post in the State.
Senior BJP leaders Suvendu Adhikari and Agnimitra Paul have emerged as frontrunners in the race for the Chief Minister’s position, although the party leadership has not made any official announcement so far.
The political developments come after the BJP secured a landslide mandate in the West Bengal Assembly elections, winning 207 seats in the 294-member House, while the Trinamool Congress managed to secure 80 seats. The victory marks the first time the BJP is set to form a government in West Bengal. Political analysts also noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become the first sitting Prime Minister after Jawaharlal Nehru under whose leadership the BJP has won power in the State.
West Bengal Governor R N Ravi dissolved the State Legislative Assembly on Thursday following the election results. The dissolution came amid heightened political activity and intense discussions over government formation in the State.
Meanwhile, political tensions escalated after Chandranath Rath, personal assistant to BJP leader and Chief Ministerial hopeful Suvendu Adhikari, was shot dead by unidentified bike-borne assailants at Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district late on Wednesday night. Rath sustained multiple bullet injuries to the head, chest, and abdomen and was declared dead after being rushed to a hospital.
The body of Chandranath Rath was later taken to his hometown in Purba Medinipur district. West Bengal Police have reportedly recovered the motorcycle believed to have been used by the assailants during the attack. The vehicle has been brought to Madhyamgram Police Station for investigation.
In another major development, outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reportedly refused to visit Raj Bhavan to tender her resignation after the election defeat, stating that she had not accepted the loss. According to the Election Commission of India, Mamata Banerjee lost the Bhabanipur Assembly seat to BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari by a margin of over 15,000 votes.
The BJP Legislature Party meeting chaired by Amit Shah is expected to play a decisive role in shaping the party’s leadership and future governance strategy in West Bengal.
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