Key Takeaways
May 8, 2026 · 2 min read · By Rishabh Bhardwaj
·
AI-assisted, human-reviewed · Our editorial standards
Suvendu Adhikari is set to become West Bengal's first BJP Chief Minister, after meeting Governor R.N. Ravi at Kolkata's Lok Bhavan to formally stake claim to form the government. His swearing-in is scheduled at Brigade Parade Grounds in Kolkata on Saturday.
West Bengal has been governed by the Trinamool Congress under Mamata Banerjee for over a decade, and before that by the Left Front for 34 years. A BJP government in the state would mark the most significant political realignment in Bengal in nearly four decades.
Adhikari himself is a former Trinamool Congress leader who defected to the BJP. His rise to the top post underlines how dramatically the state's political landscape has shifted, with the BJP converting years of organisational effort in Bengal into a majority government.
The oath ceremony at Brigade Parade Grounds is symbolically significant, the venue has historically been used for large political rallies by Left and Trinamool governments alike. A BJP swearing-in there would signal the party's intent to project strength and legitimacy in a state where it was a marginal force not long ago.
The immediate focus will be on cabinet composition, which will signal how the BJP plans to govern a state with a complex social fabric, a strong opposition tradition, and ongoing law-and-order concerns that featured heavily in the election campaign. Central government relations and fund flows to Bengal, long a point of friction under Mamata Banerjee's administration, are also likely to shift with a BJP state government now aligned with New Delhi.
For markets and business, a change in Bengal's government could reopen conversations about investment climate in the state, which has lagged behind peers in attracting large industrial projects. Whether the new administration moves quickly on economic priorities will be a key early signal of its governance agenda.
India's Expenditure Finance Committee has cleared a Rs 1.25 lakh crore outlay for India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, up 64 percent from ISM 1.0's Rs 76,000 crore. The proposal now goes to the Cabinet, as two chip plants begin commercial output and a third, CG Semi, is set to open July 4, 2026.
The Supreme Court blocked Trump from firing Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook, preserving the Fed's independence from presidential removal power. A separate ruling the same day gave Trump broader authority to dismiss leaders of other independent federal agencies.
The US Supreme Court has blocked President Trump's attempt to fire Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, who faced unproven mortgage fraud allegations. The ruling preserves Fed independence for now and keeps a politically charged removal case alive in the courts.
The US Supreme Court, splitting along ideological lines, has allowed the Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status for Haitian and Syrian immigrants.