Party insiders suggest that reclaiming Writers’ Building would not only be a logistical decision but also a political statement, underscoring a break from the Trinamool era.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), riding a sweeping electoral victory in West Bengal, appears to be signalling a symbolic and administrative shift — from Nabanna in Howrah to the historic Writers’ Building in Kolkata.
Prior to the Assembly elections, BJP state president and Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya had declared that if voted to power, the party would run the government from Writers’ Building instead of Nabanna.
Advertisement
While the party has yet to officially reiterate that position after the results, developments on Tuesday morning suggested that Writers’ Building has already come under heightened focus.
Advertisement
Located in BBD Bagh, Writers’ Building — the iconic red structure that once served as the state secretariat from the colonial era through decades of Left Front rule — carries deep administrative and political symbolism. For generations, governance in Bengal was conducted from this seat of power.
However, the secretariat shifted to Nabanna in 2013 under the Trinamool Congress government led by Mamata Banerjee, marking a new administrative chapter.
With the BJP securing more than a two-thirds majority in the 2026 Assembly elections, the possibility of reversing that shift has gained traction.
Party insiders suggest that reclaiming Writers’ Building would not only be a logistical decision but also a political statement, underscoring a break from the Trinamool era.
Meanwhile, the question of leadership remains unresolved. Amid intense speculation over who will be sworn in as chief minister, senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari — who registered significant victories in both Nandigram and Bhabanipur — has reportedly been summoned to New Delhi by the party’s central leadership. Sources indicate that consultations are underway at the highest level, with the BJP expected to finalise its legislative party leader soon.
The dramatic electoral outcome has also triggered heightened security measures at Nabanna. On Monday, even as counting was underway, unprecedented scenes unfolded at the 15-storey secretariat building in Howrah’s Mandirtala area.
Central forces cordoned off both the interior and exterior of the complex, conducting strict checks on all entrants and exits. Bags were screened, and movement was tightly regulated, reflecting the tense transition of power.
The scale of the BJP’s victory marks a historic shift in Bengal’s political landscape. After 15 years of Trinamool Congress rule, the party has been decisively ousted, with several senior ministers losing their seats. Notably, Mamata Banerjee herself faced defeat in Bhabanipur, losing by a margin exceeding 15,000 votes to Suvendu Adhikari — a result that underscores the magnitude of the political upheaval.
Earlier, on 7 June 2025, Bhattacharya had asserted with confidence that the BJP would come to power and govern from Writers’ Building. “Our chief minister will run the government from Writers’,” he had said at the time, framing it as a restoration of administrative tradition.
On Monday, as the results became clear, BJP supporters were seen gathering outside Nabanna, celebrating the victory with saffron colours. Yet, within party circles, there remains a cautious tone. A senior BJP leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, remarked that administrative decisions — including the choice of headquarters — would be taken after due deliberation.
For now, while Nabanna remains under tight security and the leadership question hangs in the balance, the spotlight has unmistakably shifted to Writers’ Building — a structure that may once again become the nerve centre of governance in West Bengal.
Advertisement
