Samik Bhattacharya Targets TMC's 'Misrule' in 2026 Polls
Samik Bhattacharya vowed to end the “corrupt misrule” of the Trinamool Congress (TMC),
Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya was unanimously elected as the new West Bengal BJP president on Wednesday, tasked with leading the party into the 2026 assembly elections. The 61-year-old veteran, known for his RSS roots and oratory skills, vowed to end the “corrupt misrule” of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), framing the polls as a battle to preserve Bengal’s culture, pluralism, and heritage.
Bhattacharya, the sole nominee, filed his nomination at the BJP’s Salt Lake office, accompanied by outgoing president Sukanta Majumdar and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. The formal announcement was made at a felicitation ceremony at Science City, where senior leader Ravi Shankar Prasad presented the election certificate.
Addressing party workers, Bhattacharya emphasized unity and communal harmony, stating, “The BJP is not against minorities but against violence and communalism. We envision a Bengal where Durga Puja and Muharram processions coexist peacefully.” He criticized the TMC on issues like corruption, migrant worker conditions, and blocked central welfare schemes, while urging old and new BJP members to work together. “The old guard held the flag high; newcomers fuel our growth. Together, we’ll surpass 200 seats and oust TMC,” he declared.
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Majumdar, reflecting on the party’s 38% vote share in 2021, expressed confidence in Bhattacharya’s leadership to surpass this and defeat the TMC. However, the absence of former president Dilip Ghosh, who led the BJP to 77 seats in 2021 (now reduced to 65 due to bypoll losses and defections), highlighted internal rifts. Sources noted Ghosh was not invited, signaling tensions with the current leadership.
Bhattacharya faces challenges in unifying factions, countering TMC’s “anti-Bengali” narrative, and strengthening the party’s base. TMC’s Kunal Ghosh dismissed the BJP’s prospects, predicting a fourth consecutive TMC victory.
With his 40-year association with the BJP and RSS, Bhattacharya’s leadership aims to leverage his grassroots experience and appeal to the Bengali Bhadralok to reshape the party’s fortunes in 2026.
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