Union Home Minister Amit Shah concluded a focused visit to Kolkata by pressing the Bharatiya Janata Party to intensify preparations for the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections. At the centre of his outreach was an effort to present a united front and to mobilise party cadres across the state to aim for a BJP government by April next year.
Shah convened meetings with senior state and national observers including Sunil Bansal, Bhupendra Yadav, Biplab Deb and Amit Malviya. The meetings acquired added significance with the visible presence of Dilip Ghosh, the former state president, who indicated a return to the frontline of organisational affairs. After a private discussion with Shah, Ghosh said only that he had been invited to listen to the minister.
Dilip Ghosh return reshapes BJP strategy in West Bengal
Party sources said Shah also held a separate session with Samik Bhattacharya, the current state president, and Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the Opposition, a step intended to contain infighting and encourage coordination across rival factions. MLAs were instructed to increase constituency visits and maintain a visible presence in their areas, with regular engagement throughout the week.
The reappearance of Dilip Ghosh in high-level meetings is being read by party workers as an attempt to consolidate leadership and energise the base. Senior organisers are reportedly looking to combine Ghosh’s organisational strengths with the public profile of other leaders to sharpen the BJP’s campaign ahead of a crucial election year.
The Trinamool Congress was quick to respond. TMC leader Jay Prakash Majumdar dismissed Shah’s visit as theatrics, arguing the state BJP was in disarray and accusing the central leadership of attempting damage control. He singled out the recent changes at the state presidency and the absence of a fully formed state committee as evidence of organisational weakness.
One point of contention raised by the TMC is Amit Shah’s assurance to the Matua community that names would not be removed from the Special Intensive Revision list. The TMC claims the BJP’s rhetoric on infiltrators and the subsequent revisions have alienated sections of the Hindu electorate, including Matuas and Namasudras. Majumdar described Shah’s outreach to the community as a corrective move aimed at stemming electoral losses.
Political analysts say Shah’s visit serves multiple purposes. First, it is a morale boost for BJP workers and an assertion that the central leadership remains engaged in Bengal. Second, it is a public signal to opposing leaders that the party intends to contest vigorously next year. Third, the inclusion of former and current state leaders in the same meetings is a tactical effort to minimise public disputes and present a united campaign front.
Whether these measures will translate into electoral gains depends on several factors. The BJP must consolidate its organisational structure, broaden its appeal in traditional TMC strongholds and manage caste and community sensitivities carefully. The Matua issue in particular will be closely watched, as any perception of exclusion could cost the party critical support.
As Shah departed after offering prayers at Thanthania Kali temple in North Kolkata, the message to the state unit was clear. The central leadership expects activity and unity from party functionaries, and it is prepared to re-engage sidelined figures if that helps the BJP’s prospects. The effectiveness of that strategy will be tested in the months ahead as both parties begin to intensify the electoral contest.
Key Takeaways:
- Dilip Ghosh return signals a renewed role for the former state president in BJP’s Bengal strategy.
- Amit Shah’s meetings aim to unify leaders and step up campaigning ahead of the 2026 assembly polls.
- TMC dismissed the move as desperation while raising concerns about the BJP’s handling of the Matua SIR issue.
- The BJP has ordered MLAs to remain active in constituencies as it seeks to translate organisation changes into electoral gains.
