Suvendu Adhikari is poised to assume a significant role in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in West Bengal, marking a notable shift in the state’s political landscape. His departure from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and rise within the BJP reflect deeper internal tensions that have shaped recent developments in West Bengal politics.

Adhikari’s political trajectory began in South Bengal, where his family has long held influence. His father, Sisir Adhikari, a Congress leader who served as a minister in the Manmohan Singh government, established a strong political foothold in the regions of Contai and Tamluk. As the Left Front’s dominance weakened in these areas, particularly after the Nandigram unrest, Suvendu emerged as a key figure leading protests against alleged land acquisition tactics by the Left.

Recognizing his potential, then TMC Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee elevated Suvendu to prominent party roles, including president of the TMC youth wing and the party’s observer in Maoist-affected Jangalmahal. Under his leadership, the TMC successfully reclaimed political ground from both the Left and Congress, while also curbing the youth's drift toward extremism.

Adhikari’s electoral record underscores his influence. In 2009, he won the Lok Sabha seat from Tamluk by a significant margin over CPI(M) veteran Lakshman Seth and retained it in 2014. In the 2016 West Bengal Assembly elections, Suvendu secured the Nandigram seat with over 67% of the vote, defeating a joint Left-Congress candidate. Subsequently, Mamata appointed him as transport minister, later adding the environment portfolio to his responsibilities.

Despite his electoral success and administrative roles, tensions between Suvendu and Mamata became increasingly apparent. Sources indicate that Mamata harbored reservations about his growing prominence, in part due to her own succession plans that did not include him. To counterbalance Suvendu’s influence, she established a parallel youth organization, appointing her nephew Abhishek Banerjee as its head. Later, after dissolving this entity, she reinstated the TMC youth wing under Abhishek’s leadership.

Adhikari reportedly remained somewhat distanced from Mamata’s inner circle and rarely stayed overnight in Kolkata, opting instead to commute daily from Nandigram. This physical and political distance contributed to a widening trust gap. Suvendu himself remarked that while he held ministerial office, Mamata controlled the operations of his department.

Relations further deteriorated in 2020, with public displays of factionalism becoming visible during Durga Puja celebrations in Nandigram. Reports described events sponsored by Suvendu featuring slogans like “Dadar anugami” (follower of Dada) absent of official TMC insignia or imagery of Mamata. In response, party leaders branded him with derogatory epithets and staged counter-meetings.

In the lead-up to the 2021 Assembly elections, Suvendu formally joined the BJP, reflecting a broader shift of key leaders leaving the TMC amid internal conflicts. Political observers note that Mamata’s leadership style, characterized by stringent control and close oversight of party members’ behavior and loyalty, has contributed to a climate where dissent or perceived disloyalty can lead to political sidelining.

As Suvendu Adhikari’s profile rises within West Bengal’s BJP framework, analysts suggest that these developments highlight the challenges Mamata Banerjee faces in maintaining party cohesion and effectively managing leadership ambitions within her ranks. The evolving political dynamic underscores a period of significant transformation in the state’s governance and party politics.