Former West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh on Tuesday met the party’s new state chief, Shamik Bhattacharya, at the BJP headquarters in Salt Lake, amid speculation over Ghosh’s political future and reported discontent within the party ranks.
“I am still with the BJP and will remain a dedicated party worker,” Ghosh told reporters after the meeting. “There were doubts and rumours about me, but I haven’t come here to clarify any speculation. I am standing firm on the ground of reality, not fantasy.” Ghosh reiterated his long-standing criticism of the ruling Trinamul Congress (TMC), alleging that the state was overrun by “Islamic fundamentalist groups” and recalling that 150 BJP workers were killed when he served as state president. “The TMC was halved in 2019 and will be wiped out in 2026,” he said.
“TMC has now become a refuge for porn stars and criminals.” He added that he had urged Bhattacharya to hold rallies in his Midnapur constituency and other areas. “Speculation happens when someone has value in the market—people talk about me because I matter,” Ghosh said, responding to questions about his recent low profile. Newly-appointed state BJP chief Bhattacharya, who assumed office just five days ago, emphasised party unity. Addressing party workers, he said, “There might be temporary distance, but no one should be excluded. BJP has always been and will remain united.” He assured that the party would present a cohesive front within 15 days and dismissed the notion of a divide between state and national leadership. “There is only one line in Bengal BJP—not a Bengal line or Delhi line,” he said. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari held a Press conference at EZCC in Salt Lake, releasing a dossier titled ‘Bhaipo Gang’ (referring to the chief minister’s nephew) that includes photographs and alleged criminal records of 50 Trinamul workers. “The incident at Kasba Law College involving Manojit Mishra is just one of 350 such examples,” Adhikari claimed.
Separately, the BJP posted a video on social media allegedly showing a TMC worker, reportedly close to a local MLA, harassing a fresh woman student at a Sonarpur college. The party claimed the accused had a history of FIRs and demanded action. The events signal renewed aggression from the BJP ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, as the party seeks to consolidate its ranks and target the ruling Trinamul Congress on multiple fronts.