With Assembly elections fast approaching, the BJP’s main focus in West Bengal is to strengthen its base and new party state chief Samik Bhattacharya’s team is almost ready. Party sources said he will soon announce a fresh committee of state BJP office-bearers, mainly comprising veteran leaders and party workers.
Recently, Bhattacharya met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi and discussed a reshuffle of the committee, following which it was greenlighted, party sources said, adding that approval will also be sought from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) before the panel is announced in the first week of August.
Speaking to The Indian Express, a senior party leader welcomed Bhattacharya’s decision and said, “Everyone should be included.”
According to the senior leader, every political party wants to increase its strength, for which it welcomes people from other parties, but bringing senior party leaders to the forefront is a good initiative. “Old and new together will be helpful. Better late than never. The adjustment is crucial, and the strategy is absolutely right. There will be some teething problems, but let’s see.”
According to party sources, the senior leaders will lend their knowledge and expertise, while the new and young leaders will share ideas and implement them.
Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Bhattacharya was unanimously elected as the state president of the party on July 2. The 62-year-old party loyalist has been associated with the BJP for over four decades, having been with the saffron party from the time its vote share in West Bengal was a mere 3 per cent in the 1990s.
Bhattacharya’s selection comes just months ahead of the Assembly polls scheduled to be held in 2026. The BJP has emerged as the principal Opposition party in the state, but with about 38 per cent vote share, it is not far behind the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) which bagged about 48 per cent of the votes in last year’s Lok Sabha polls.
According to party insiders, Bhattacharya has been tasked with strengthening the party, stopping infighting, and bringing everyone under one roof, and senior leaders expressed confidence that he will succeed in it.