With Eyes On Polls, Bengal BJP To Announce New President This Week; Samik’s Meeting With Nadda Stirs Buzz
With West Bengal assembly polls approaching, the BJP is poised to announce a new state president. Samik Bhattacharya is seen emerging as a potential consensus candidate after meeting with JP Nadda.
With less than a year remaining before West Bengal heads to assembly polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is preparing to announce its new state president this week, setting the stage for a keenly watched leadership decision amid heightened speculation and internal jostling.
BJP MLA and returning officer Deepak Barman recently issued a notification detailing the timeline, fuelling debates within party circles over who will take charge of the state unit ahead of the crucial April-May 2026 elections.
Nomination Process Begins Amid Buzz Over Consensus Candidate
As per the notification, nominations for the Bengal BJP president’s post will open on Wednesday, with scrutiny and withdrawals scheduled the same day. The final candidate list is set for release by 6 pm. In the event of multiple contenders, polling will follow on Thursday from noon, with results to be declared by 1.30 pm, a senior BJP functionary told news agency PTI.
However, several party leaders indicated the process might prove largely symbolic. PTI sources suggested a consensus candidate, chosen by the central leadership, could be declared without the need for a contest.
Samik Bhattacharya’s Delhi Visit Sparks Speculations
According to reports cited by PTI, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya’s sudden, official visit to BJP national president J P Nadda’s residence in Delhi on Monday has intensified chatter. A party insider revealed that Bhattacharya met Nadda alongside senior leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, who is overseeing the Bengal presidential election process. “It cannot be seen as a coincidence,” the PTI source remarked.
Although Bhattacharya stated his visit was intended to brief Nadda on the recent parliamentary delegation trip following Operation Sindoor, according to PTI, several sources hinted that his name may be the only nomination submitted, potentially signalling a consensus pick.
Another state BJP leader confirmed to PTI that all members of the party’s all-party parliamentary delegation, which participated in the Operation Sindoor outreach, met the party president on Monday.
An office bearer of the state unit told the news agency that Bhattacharya, a veteran of Bengal BJP, “has remained largely above intra-party groups, is articulate, media-savvy, and has no visible opposition within the organisation.” Another leader added, “With internal rifts between various powerful lobbies peaking, someone like Samik could be a unifying force.”
Sukanta Majumdar’s Future Uncertain as Party Debates Strategy
Top BJP sources told PTI that incumbent state president Sukanta Majumdar’s name remains under consideration, despite the party’s ‘one person, one post’ policy. Majumdar, also Union Minister of State for Education, has led the state unit since 2021.
A senior BJP leader noted that some party members believe Majumdar, having helmed the state unit for nearly three years, should step aside for a new face. Others worry a leadership change just eight months before polls might destabilise the organisation further.
Majumdar, a two-time MP from Balurghat and professor of botany, succeeded Dilip Ghosh as state president in September 2021. Sources told PTI the final decision could be unveiled during a formal felicitation ceremony on July 3 at Kolkata’s Science City Auditorium.
Suvendu Adhikari Backs Agnimitra Paul, Central Leadership Silent
Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has reportedly pushed for BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul as state president, communicating his preference to senior party leaders in Delhi. But insiders believe Paul and BJP MP Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato remain unlikely choices.
A senior state leader admitted anonymously to PTI, “Samik da is leading the race now. He fits the requirement for a face that appeals to both the grassroots and the central leadership.”
Political observers cited by PTI remain divided: while some see Bhattacharya as a loyalist choice, others question his mass appeal. Meanwhile, some leaders highlighted Maharashtra’s example, where a last-minute change of state president led to a positive outcome.
Despite the BJP constitution allowing Majumdar a second term, his dual roles are proving challenging, another senior leader said. “The party is clear about its ‘one person, one post’ guideline.”
As many as 415 state council members will vote if an election takes place. Yet, most BJP insiders believe the process will end uncontested, with one leader telling PTI that what remains is “a procedural wrap-up” after an internal consensus.
Notably, former two-time state BJP chief Dilip Ghosh appears out of contention, with reports suggesting both the central leadership and the RSS remain dissatisfied with his performance.
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