The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) on Saturday announced important legislative appointments as the BJP government assumed office in the state. The TMC appointed senior leader Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay as the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Assembly. Asima Patra and Nayana Bandyopadhyay were named Deputy Leaders of Opposition, while Firhad Hakim was appointed Chief Whip.
TMC Congratulates The Leaders
In a press release, the Trinamool Congress congratulated the newly appointed leaders and expressed confidence in their work for the people of Bengal. “We congratulate the leaders and wish them success in working with commitment for the interest of people of Bengal,” the statement noted.
Who Is Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay?
Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay, 82, is a politician from West Bengal and a senior leader of the TMC. In the recent assembly election (2026), he won the Ballygunge Assembly seat and made history by becoming the only MLA in Bengal set to serve his 10th consecutive term. He has been a close associate of former Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee since the 1980s.
He played an active role in the movement against the CPI-M and is also one of the founding members of the TMC, formed in 1998. In 2021, he resigned from his Bhabanipur assembly seat to pave the way for Banerjee’s re-election to the West Bengal Assembly.
Over the years, he held several important positions, including Government Chief Whip and later Minister for Power and Non-Conventional Energy in the Bengal government. He last served as the Minister-in-Charge of the Parliamentary Affairs Department under Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government.
Suvendu Adhikari Takes Oath As Bengal CM
The announcement came shortly after Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the first BJP Chief Minister of West Bengal earlier in the day. The oath-taking ceremony took place at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata. Several newly elected MLAs were also being sworn in as ministers. Among those who took the oath were Dilip Ghosh, Agnimitra Paul, Ashok Kirtania, Kshudiram Tudu, and Nisith Pramanik.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the leaders, praising them for their tireless efforts in serving people. He wrote, "Congratulations to Shri Dilip Ghosh Ji, Agnimitra Paul Ji, Ashok Kirtania Ji, Kshudiram Tudu Ji, and Nisith Pramanik Ji for taking oath as ministers of the West Bengal government. These leaders have tirelessly worked at the grassroots level and served the people. I am confident that as ministers, they will further strengthen West Bengal's journey of development. My very best wishes."