Dilip ‘back’ in fold, Matua, Rajbangshi netas absent at meets
Times of India | 1 January 2026
Kolkata: While the return of former Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh in positive limelight in the organisation brought relief to party old-timers on Wednesday, the absence of Matua netas Subrata Thakur and Asim Sarkar and Rajbangshi neta Ananta Maharaj increased discomfort amid Union home minister Amit Shah's visit.
On Wednesday, Ghosh was seen entering the hotel in New Town where Shah was staying. He was also present at the closed-door meeting along with Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya, leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari and junior Union minister Sukanta Majumdar. While Ghosh did not want to comment on his discussions with Shah, sources said he was likely to have a key role in the poll campaign. Asked if he was assuming a larger role this time, Ghosh said, "I came to listen to Amitji. I will see what role the party decides for me. You have to ask the party president about it." he said before leaving the meeting.
While Shah held multiple meetings with BJP netas on Wednesday, the absence of Gaighata MLA Subrata Thakur, Haringhata MLA Asim Sarkar, and that of Rajya Sabha member Ananta Maharaj stood out like sore thumb. Goghat MLA Biswanath Karak arrived at Shah's Science City meet late and was not allowed to enter. While Subrata Thakur has been at loggerheads with his brother and Union minister Shantanu Thakur, Sarkar got drawn into controversies over his recent comments. A Cooch Behar Rajbanshi neta, Ananta Maharaj recently claimed that Shah was preparing detention camps for disenfranchised people.
Ghosh's absence from meetings and rallies of PM Narendra Modi, Shah or other central netas for a long time has been raising questions over his political future. Later, his decision to get married and his meeting with CM Mamata Banerjee did not go down well with BJP seniors.
Ghosh posted on X: "2026 election is approaching; this time, people of Bengal will give a clear answer. We want a nationalist govt in our state... people of Bengal will bid farewell to an anti-national, appeasement-driven, and infiltration-supporting govt."