In a calculated move ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, the West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has revoked the suspension of its expelled leader Ritesh Tiwari.
Party insiders confirmed that the decision came under the directive of state president and Rajya Sabha MP Shamik Bhattacharya. Tiwari, once considered a close aide of former state BJP president Rahul Sinha, had been a familiar face at key party programmes before his fortunes waned during Dilip Ghosh’s tenure. Growing differences with the leadership eventually led to his expulsion from the party. However, with the BJP seeking to consolidate its non-Bengali vote base across Kolkata and parts of South Bengal, Tiwari’s return is being seen as part of a larger outreach strategy. “The decision has been taken with the aim of reconnecting with Hindi-speaking voters, who play a crucial role in several urban constituencies,” said a senior state functionary.
A formal letter issued by the BJP’s disciplinary committee stated: “You were temporarily suspended from the party on grounds of indiscipline. Following your appeal and upon the recommendation of the state disciplinary committee, your suspension has been revoked under the instruction of the state president, Shamik Bhattacharya. You are advised to resume participation in party activities in adherence to the BJP constitution.” The letter was signed by Pratap Banerjee, a senior member of the disciplinary panel.
Interestingly, speculation about Tiwari’s reinstatement gained momentum after he shared the dais with Bhattacharya at a Bijoya Sammilani event on Sunday. The programme, organised by youth leader Subir Seal — known to be close to Bhattacharya — also featured BJP leaders Rudranil Ghosh and Saptarshi Chowdhury. Denying any political motive, both Bhattacharya and Tiwari maintained that the gathering was purely “social.” “This was a community event. The organisers invited everyone, including party members,” Ritesh told The Statesman.
Reacting to his reinstatement, Tiwari said: “When I was suspended, I accepted the party’s decision with respect. Now that the suspension has been lifted, I accept it with the same humility. I have always been and will remain a loyal soldier of the BJP.” Party sources indicated that Tiwari may soon be included in the upcoming state committee — a move seen as a signal of his gradual rehabilitation within the organisation.