Senior BJP leader Dilip Ghosh is poised to re-enter the electoral spotlight as the Bharatiya Janata Party accelerates preparations for the West Bengal Assembly elections, expected to be held in April.
Ghosh is set to begin an intensive campaign from January 6, embarking on a packed schedule of rallies across the state before restrictions on loudspeakers come into force due to the Class X and XII board examinations.
According to party sources, Ghosh is likely to address around 16 public meetings during January, covering key political pockets before the examination-related curbs take effect.
His early plunge into the campaign is being seen as a strategic move by the party to harness his grassroots connections and organizational experience at a crucial juncture.
Strategy Talks with State Leadership
On Thursday, Ghosh held a closed-door meeting with state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya at the party’s Salt Lake office in Kolkata.
The discussions reportedly centred on finalizing his campaign itinerary and the broader roadmap for the months ahead.
The meeting followed an invitation from senior BJP leader Amit Shah to Ghosh to attend a core group meeting focused on election strategy, signalling renewed confidence in his role.
Party insiders indicate that a core leadership group comprising Samik Bhattacharya, former state presidents Dilip Ghosh and Sukanta Majumdar, and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari will spearhead the BJP’s election campaign in the state.
Packed Rally Schedule Across Bengal
Ghosh is expected to kick off his campaign with a rally in Barrackpore on January 6, followed by a joint public meeting with Samik Bhattacharya in Durgapur a week later.
He is also slated to address a rally in Cooch Behar in north Bengal on January 13, a region traditionally considered a BJP stronghold. In addition to these major events, Ghosh will hold a series of smaller meetings across various districts to maximize outreach.
Speaking to the media, Ghosh struck a tone of readiness and resolve. “I don’t know what specific responsibility the party will assign me, but I have made it clear that I am available 24×7. Responsibilities change with time, and the party moves forward.
I have been asked to focus on election preparations, and I am fully committed,” he said, adding cryptically, “Some weapons are meant to be used at special times.”
Contesting the Polls and Internal Dynamics
The former MLA from Kharagpur said he would contest the Assembly elections if the party fields him, making it clear that his preferred constituency remains Kharagpur.
He recalled that during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he had contested from Bardhaman–Durgapur, a seat he did not particularly favour, and lost.
Ghosh also dismissed speculation about internal differences, stating that he has no hesitation in sharing the stage with Suvendu Adhikari. He emphasized that new entrants to the BJP must adapt to the party’s discipline and working style.
BJP’s Larger Pitch Against TMC
Reflecting on the party’s performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Ghosh acknowledged that the results were not ideal but insisted that the BJP’s organizational footprint in Bengal continues to expand.
“Our seats in the Assembly and Parliament have grown over time. Leaders from other parties are joining us. BJP is the only viable alternative in West Bengal. Nothing is impossible—we have formed governments in Odisha and Tripura,” he said.
On Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee laying the foundation stone of a new temple complex, Durga Angan, in New Town, Ghosh dismissed the move as a diversion. “People are not concerned about symbolic politics.
When there are no jobs and no industry, such issues are raised to distract attention. We are not worried,” he remarked.
Ghosh’s renewed visibility comes months after his April meeting with Mamata Banerjee at Digha during the inauguration of the Jagannath Temple—an interaction that had sparked unease within BJP ranks.
Now, with the election battle drawing closer, the party appears keen to deploy one of its most recognizable faces to energize cadres and sharpen its challenge to the ruling Trinamool Congress.
#DilipGhosh #BJPWestBengal #WestBengalElections #AssemblyPolls2026 #BJPStrategy #PoliticalCampaign #BengalPolitics
