A day after Assembly poll results were declared, the BJP shifted its focus towards government formation, appointing Union Home Minister Amit Shah as its central observer for the election of West Bengal CM. Shah will be assisted by Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi as co-observer, with the CM’s oath-taking ceremony scheduled for May 9.The appointment of Shah, BJP’s top strategist who personally led the Bengal campaign, to oversee the CM’s election process mirrors the importance Prime Minister Narendra Modi attaches to the eastern state.In Assam, Union Health Minister JP Nadda has been tasked as the central observer for the election of CM, with incumbent Himanta Biswa Sarma expected to be re-elected. Haryana CM Nayab Saini will be the co-observer in Assam.In Puducherry, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will be the observer for the BJP legislature party meet to elect the leader. The outgoing CM, N Rangaswamy of the All India NR Congress, is likely to retain the top spot.In Bengal, Leader of Opposition in the outgoing Assembly Suvendu Adhikari remains the top favourite for the CM’s job, say sources. However, they have not ruled out surprises, as has been the case in the past with CM candidates in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and lately Odisha.The names of former BJP Bengal chief Dilip Ghosh, incumbent state chief Samik Bhattacharya and Agnimitra Paul (should PM decide to have a woman chief minister) are also doing the rounds.EC sends notifications to Governors to constitute new AssembliesAs the BJP began parleys to move to the next stage after registering wins in Assam, Bengal and Puducherry, the Election Commission on Tuesday sent notifications to the Governors of West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry for the constitution of new Assemblies.The move came simultaneous to outgoing Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee declaring she will not resign.Parallel to this, the EC has also directed Bengal chief secretary, DGP and Central Armed Police Force personnel to ensure zero tolerance for any post poll violence by anyone.So far as Bengal, Adhikari tops the list of CM hopefuls for his consistent delivery in the state.Like former Congressman Himanta Biswa Sarma who turned the northeast around for the BJP after joining it in 2015, Suvendu has aided BJP’s ascent in Bengal which was long hesitant to accept the right wing.Also, Adhikari created history in Bengal by defeating a sitting chief minister twice in a row — first in Nandigram in 2021 and again in Bhabanipur yesterday. The giant Mamata slayer breached the TMC’s most impregnable fortress.Adhikari’s transformation from Mamata aide to a saffron leader has been slow but phenomenal, insiders say. He has proved that he was the real force behind Mamata’s rise against the Left after the anti-Tata Nandigram movement in 2007. This movement laid the ground for TMC’s rise in the state.After he switched sides to the the BJP in 2020, Adhikari has silently strived on the ground nurturing vast electoral pockets for the BJP and taking on the belligerent Mamata.BJP leaders say Adhikari won Amit Shah’s trust by accepting the challenge of taking on Mamata from Bhabanipur. Adhikari contested from two seats this time — his own seat Nandigram and against Mamata in Bhabanipur. He won both.