Over three months have passed since Samik Bhattacharya was elected unopposed as the state president of the West Bengal BJP on July 3. However, the party is yet to announce its new state committee, even as the Assembly election process is expected to begin in a few months.
According to Bharatiya Janata Party sources, while the final list is pending, a draft of the state committee has already been prepared. Party insiders indicate that the announcement is unlikely before Durga Puja and a new committee may be unveiled only after the festival.
Before the electoral battle, political parties in Bengal are preparing for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list, which the Election Commission is expected to begin after Durga Puja. The main responsibility will lie with the Commission’s Booth Level Officers (BLOs), but the Booth Level Agents (BLAs) of political parties will also play a crucial role.
A recent BJP meeting at a five-star hotel in Newtown discussed preparations for the Puja season and, notably, the state committee formation. Those who were present In the meeting were National General Secretary (Organisation) BL Santosh, State President Bhattacharya, Leader of Opposition Shuvendu Adhikari, former state president and Union MoS for Education Sukanta Majumdar, IT cell head Amit Malviya, state General Secretary (Organisation) Amitabh Chakraborty, Jagannath Chatterjee and several MLAs and MPs.
Sources confirm that leaders from the RSS and its affiliates also attended the meeting.
Insiders suggest that the RSS will play a major role in shaping both state and district committees. Importantly, the BJP leadership wants to bring back experienced and “original” party workers, many of whom were sidelined in recent years. State president Bhattacharya has repeatedly emphasised the need to balance both the “original” cadres and newer entrants.
The central leadership has also instructed that 70 percent of district committee positions should be filled by RSS-aligned or original workers, in a clear signal to avoid repeating the mistakes of 2021, when a surge of leaders from other parties caused internal rifts.
Despite initial gains after the 2021 Assembly elections, the BJP’s fortunes in Bengal have declined. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the party’s seat tally in the state fell from 18 to 12. The central leadership has since dispatched three review teams to analyse both the 2021 and 2024 results and internal surveys are being conducted to identify gaps ahead of 2026.
Political experts note that the BJP’s central and state leadership are treading cautiously this time, with an eye on internal unity and long-term organisation building, as Bengal moves closer to another high-stakes election season.
Also read: First batch of Padma ilish reaches Kolkata ahead of Durga Puja
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