The BJP has quietly begun its search for the next chief of its West Bengal unit — a state the party wants to take a second shot at in 2026 Assembly elections after its tally jumped from just three to 77 in the 2021 polls.
So what are the criteria the party has set for the top job? Suave, educated, preferably someone who appeals to urban voters and definitely someone who steers clear of controversies.
The BJP, sources say, is considering three names at this stage, even as the most successful Bengal BJP president till date, Dilip Ghosh, eyes a re-run. But party sources say Ghosh’s return is “nearly impossible” given his knack for courting controversies, regardless of his achievements.
A source told News18 on condition of anonymity that the party is looking for someone who will help it crack the urban jinx in Bengal that kept it away from Kolkata and surrounding urban districts — North and South Parganas.
THE 3 NAMES IN THE RUNNING
The first name that is doing the rounds is that of Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato, the newly elected MP from Purulia. Though he is not an urban face, the BJP is considering him for two reasons — he is very close to sitting Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar, and has tribal background. Whenever a new state BJP chief is selected, the central leadership takes suggestions from the outgoing state unit president. Though non-binding on the party, the BJP often goes with the recommendations.
Dilip Ghosh had suggested Sukanta Majumdar’s name and given the proximity between Majumdar and Mahato, the party thinks Majumdar will be happy to back Mahato’s candidature. What also works for him is belonging to the Kurmi community — a caste that makes up 65% of the population of Purulia — the district Mahato comes from and the BJP’s first electoral inroad into the state years ago.
Kurmis also make up 17% of West Midnapore and 18% of Bankura. Last year, the community had organised a mass protest demanding ST status. Making a Kurmi the Bengal BJP chief will politically help the party in a state where it wants to challenge Mamata Banerjee through street protests.
The other two leaders the BJP leadership in Delhi is considering are Jagannath Sarkar, sitting MP from Ranaghat, and Samik Bhattacharya, a newly elected Rajya Sabha member and resident of Kolkata.
Sarkar is a teacher by profession, known to be soft-spoken and has organizational knowledge being a district president. Meanwhile, Bhattacharya is known for his urban, suave and polished approach that suits what the BJP leadership is looking for in Bengal.
Bhattacharya has been with the BJP since it was a dormant outfit in the state but has easy acceptability among the old regime that swears by Dilip Ghosh and the ‘new BJP’ in the state that considers Suvendu Adhikari as its de facto leader.
So what binds the three? All three have strong RSS backgrounds, something that is a pre-requisite, particularly in states where the BJP is aspiring to be in power and has to keep the ideological compass right.
WHY CHANGE OF STATE CHIEF NOW?
A BJP general secretary confirmed to News18 that Bihar, Telangana, and Gujarat too will have new BJP chiefs soon. Uttar Pradesh may also see a change of guard, sources said. Bihar BJP chief Samrat Chadhary is now the Bihar Deputy CM, and Telangana unit chief G Kishen Reddy is a Union Minister again. Gujarat BJP is also set for a leadership change following CR Patil’s induction into the Union Cabinet. Patil’s term as the state BJP chief was extended keeping the Lok Sabha elections in mind.
Sources said Patil’s successor is likely to be from the Other Backward Class (OBC) community. Meanwhile, Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary, who offered to resign following the BJP’s diminished performance in Uttar Pradesh may give way to a new state unit chief with an eye on the 2027 assembly elections.
In West Bengal, Majumdar, who is also an MP, has been inducted as a junior minister in Modi’s Council of Ministers. Meanwhile, his predecessor Dilip Ghosh, who is still sulking after being defeated from the Bardhaman Durgapur seat, has publicly blamed “backbiting” for the unceremonious change of constituency which he blames for his loss. He has also threatened to “quit politics” if the BJP has nothing in mind for him, casually hinting at another shot to be Bengal BJP chief.
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