BJP MLA Rathindra Bose was elected unopposed as the Speaker of the 18th West Bengal Legislative Assembly on Friday, becoming the first legislator from North Bengal to hold the post since Independence.
Bose's name was proposed in the House by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, after which pro tem Speaker Tapas Roy conducted a voice vote. Roy later declared Bose elected after all 207 BJP MLAs backed his candidature, per a report by Hindustan Times.
Elected unopposed
The BJP had announced Bose, the MLA from Cooch Behar Dakshin, as its candidate for the Speaker's post on Thursday. The opposition TMC chose not to field any nominee, ensuring a smooth and uncontested election.
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With the BJP securing 207 seats in the 294-member Assembly following its victory in the recent state elections, Bose's elevation to the Speaker's chair was widely expected.
Shri Rathindra Bose;
— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) May 14, 2026
Bharatiya Janata Party MLA of the Cooch Behar Dakshin (South) Constituency has been nominated as our Candidate for the Post of Hon'ble Speaker of the 18th West Bengal Legislative Assembly.
I hope that his Candidature is supported by one and all and he gets… pic.twitter.com/Tmb762gHBg
Political significance of Bose's elevation
Bose's appointment is being viewed as politically significant for North Bengal, a region that has emerged as one of the BJP's strongest support bases in the state over the past decade.
A chartered accountant by profession and associated with the RSS, Bose has remained an active figure in the region's political landscape.
His election also marks a shift from the long-standing practice in West Bengal politics where parties often selected lawyers or legislators with legal backgrounds for the Speaker's role.
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During the previous TMC government, veteran legislator Biman Banerjee served as Speaker. Earlier, under the Left Front governments, leaders such as Syed Abdul Mansur Habibullah and Hashim Abdul Halim had occupied the chair.
Following Bose's election, Adhikari addressed the House. Leader of the Opposition Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay also welcomed the new Speaker and raised the issue of alleged post-poll violence.
