Samik Bhattacharya Elected Unopposed as West Bengal BJP Chief, Vows to Oust Trinamool in 2026

Kolkata: In a significant political development in West Bengal, Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya was elected unopposed as the new state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The announcement was made during a formal felicitation ceremony at Science City, Kolkata, marking the beginning of a new leadership chapter for the party in the state.

The 61-year-old leader, associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) since 1974, was declared elected by Ravi Shankar Prasad, BJP’s appointed State Election Commissioner for the organisational polls. “Only one nomination was submitted for the post, and that was Samik Bhattacharya’s. I congratulate him,” Prasad said while handing over the official certificate of appointment.

Bhattacharya becomes the 11th state BJP president and will lead the party until 2027, including during the crucial 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.

Speaking after assuming charge, Bhattacharya laid out his primary objective with clarity: defeating the ruling Trinamool Congress. “Our only goal is to remove Trinamool from power. We will fight unitedly to achieve this mission,” he said.

However, the tone of unity was contrasted by visible signs of internal rifts. Notably, Dilip Ghosh, a former state BJP president and one of the party’s most prominent faces in Bengal, was not invited to the ceremony. His absence, coupled with the silence around his name during key addresses — including that of Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari — added fuel to ongoing speculation about factional divides within the state unit.

Bhattacharya, however, attempted to strike a conciliatory note. “Both old and new members are essential for the party’s growth. You can’t build a strong organisation by ordering loyalty like clay idols from Kumartuli,” he remarked, urging senior leaders to remain open to fresh blood and reminding newer entrants of the sacrifices made by the old guard during difficult times.

Addressing sensitive issues around communal harmony, Bhattacharya said the BJP’s fight was not against minorities. “We want to replace stones with books, swords with pens. Let Durga Puja and Muharram processions take place together, peacefully. Bengal must be protected — not divided,” he said.