BJP set to get a new state unit chief in Samik Bhattacharya
Sources in the BJP, which is in the process of appointing new state presidents across the country, said Bhattacharya's main challenge will be to put an end to factionalism in the state unit before the elections. The central leadership believes the MP will be an acceptable option to the different factions in the state unit.
'The party always prefers grassroots leaders and Bhattacharya is the perfect choice, especially ahead of the Assembly polls. All district-level leaders have known him for years and find it easy to communicate with him,' a senior leader said.
The leader went on to add that Bhattacharya's nature of not revolting against the state and central leadership, good relations with all factions of the party, and proximity to RSS leaders tipped the scales in his favour. 'He never makes personal attacks on leaders. The BJP will fight the 2026 polls unitedly under his leadership,' the leader said.
Bhattacharya, 61, who has over four decades of political experience, started his career in 1971 with the RSS in Howrah and subsequently moved to the BJP. He steadily rose through the ranks and gradually emerged as one of the party's most popular faces in the state in the 1990s because of his strong oratory skills.
He served in several positions such as the general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha's South Howrah mandal and general secretary of Howrah district. He was later elevated to the post of state general secretary of the BJP's youth wing, a post he held for 11 years.
Bhattacharya also served as the general secretary of the Bengal BJP for three terms. In 2014, he won the Basirhat Dakshin Assembly bypoll and was a legislator for just over a year. Last year, he was sent to the Upper House.
'He is such a good orator that Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Surjya Kanta Mishra of the CPI(M) gave him time from his quota in the Assembly, as Bhattacharya was the lone BJP MLA (2014 to 2016) and was not allotted more than five minutes. He loves poetry and frequently quotes eminent poets such as Shankha Ghosh and Shakti Chattopadhyay, who is his favourite,' said a senior CPI(M) leader.
In 2017, the state CID summoned Bhattacharya in connection with its probe into an alleged scam in the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
Targeting the BJP, Trinamool Congress (TMC) spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, 'There is a constant fight between the camps led by Majumdar, LoP Suvendu Adhikari and former MP Dilip Ghosh. The BJP thinks Bhattacharya's appointment will solve the issue, but in reality, all three factions will disturb him. It will be tough for him to keep the BJP united. Even though I do not support his ideology, I am aware of his decent behaviour.'
Atri Mitra is a Special Correspondent of The Indian Express with more than 20 years of experience in reporting from West Bengal, Bihar and the North-East. He has been covering administration and political news for more than ten years and has a keen interest in political development in West Bengal.
Atri holds a Master degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University and Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. He is also an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur.
He started his career with leading vernacular daily the Anandabazar Patrika, and worked there for more than fifteen years. He worked as Bihar correspondent for more than three years for Anandabazar Patrika. He covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections. He also worked with News18-Bangla and covered the Bihar Lok Sabha election in 2019. ... Read More
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