Fifty-five-year-old Suvendu Adhikari had long worked for this day — the day he assumed charge as the first BJP Chief Minister of West Bengal, scripting history in more ways than one.While the man wears many hats, he will be remembered most as the former Mamata Banerjee confidant, who laid the ground for her historic 2011 win against the Left rule in the state.It was Suvendu whose leadership of the 2007 pro-farmer Nandigram campaign catapulted Mamata to power.But that was another era — a time when Suvendu was widely regarded as a natural political heir to Mamata, who had other plans and chose nephew Abhishek to succeed her instead.This was the turning point for the TMC, with Suvendu turning saffron by joining the BJP in December 2020 and never looking back.Widely considered the writer of the BJP’s 2026 Bengal victory script, Suvendu is no political novice.He hails from the illustrious family of freedom fighters and politicians.His ancestor Bipin Adhikari’s home was twice gutted by the British.Suvendu’s father Sisir Adhikari remained a long-time Congress leader before joining the TMC.The Adhikaris have immense sway in East Midnapore where Nandigram is located.As for administrative experience, the newly elected Bengal CM has ample.His public life spans 30 years during which he has been two-time Lok Sabha MP, three-time MLA, the Leader of the Opposition in Bengal for five years, three-time councillor and the Chairman of the Contai Municipality.From being Cabinet Minister with portfolios like Transport and Irrigation for five years and chairperson, Hooghly River Bridge Commission, Suvendu has beenthe Chairman of the Haldia Development Authority for over a decade and a strongcooperative movement leader having served as Chairman, Agriculture Rural Bank, Contai Urban Cooperative and Vidyasagar Central Cooperative Bank.His greatest strength, however, is his street fighting skills, which came in handy for Mamata earlier and the BJP now.With his elevation as the Bengal CM on Saturday, Suvendu has proved his influence spans much beyond the Adhikari family turf of East Midnapore in the state.