Kolkata, 2 July (H.S.) —
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised for a leadership change in West Bengal as senior leader and Rajya Sabha MP Shamik Bhattacharya filed his nomination for the post of state president on Wednesday. The nomination comes amid clear indications from party headquarters in Delhi, intensifying political chatter within the Bengal BJP unit.
According to a formal communication issued by the party on Thursday afternoon, Bhattacharya was the sole nominee for the position, making his elevation to the post almost certain. While the official announcement is still awaited, sources within the party confirmed that the process is being carried out under the directive of BJP national president J.P. Nadda. If all goes as expected, Bhattacharya will soon be formally declared the new Bengal BJP chief.
The BJP's Salt Lake office witnessed heightened activity throughout the day. The nomination window was open from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., followed by document verification scheduled for 5:00 p.m. Senior BJP leaders including Sunil Bansal, outgoing president Sukanta Majumdar, Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato, Jagannath Chattopadhyay, and Shankar Ghosh were present at the party office, underscoring the significance of the leadership transition.
Commenting on the development, Sukanta Majumdar said, “Our party functions on the principle of consensus. I’m confident that there will be only one name in the fray. Whoever the party decides, will file the nomination.” His remarks suggest that an internal agreement has likely been reached, minimizing chances of a contest. However, if another nomination does emerge, the party is prepared to conduct an election.
This leadership shift comes at a crucial time, with only a year left before the next state assembly elections. The decision on who will lead the Bengal BJP into the electoral battle is expected to be finalized today. A formal felicitation ceremony for the incoming state president is scheduled for Thursday at Science City in Kolkata.
Majumdar further noted, “The party will choose the kind of leadership Bengal BJP needs at this moment. The decision will follow the directions given by the central leadership.”
Bhattacharya’s anticipated elevation is being seen as part of the BJP’s larger strategy to recalibrate its Bengal unit ahead of the high-stakes assembly polls in 2026.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
