Samik Bhattacharya picked as Bengal BJP chief, to revive party ahead of 2026 polls

Kolkata: A dyed-in-the-wool party loyalist and articulate communicator with deep roots in the RSS, Samik Bhattacharya’s election as the West Bengal BJP president signals the central leadership’s calibrated move to steer the state unit through internal churn and retool it into a winning machine ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.

At 61, Bhattacharya’s rise to the state's top organisational post is being seen as a reward for decades of silent perseverance, ideological fidelity, and personal discipline, traits that have kept him at the core of the party machinery even when he wasn’t in the limelight.

A Rajya Sabha MP, he was elected unopposed as the new president of the Bengal unit.

A bachelor, Bhattacharya’s political journey began in the mid-1970s when, as a schoolboy, he first attended RSS shakhas in Howrah’s Mandirtala area.

Immersed early in Sangh values, he joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), which marked the beginning of his full-time political life as a foot soldier of the Sangh Parivar.

He has been part of BJP since its marginal years in West Bengal, staying committed even when the party had little organisational presence or electoral relevance, long before its breakthrough post-2018.

Gradually, he rose through the ranks: from ABVP to BJYM during Tapan Sikdar era in the 1990s, and over the next three decades held every major organisational post: state general secretary, vice-president, and chief spokesperson, except the presidency.

It was during his days in BJYM that he forged a camaraderie with his contemporary Rahul Sinha, who would later head the state BJP in 2009.

His prominence grew under Tathagata Roy’s presidency, when he was appointed state general secretary. Though he did not wield much organisational power under Dilip Ghosh, he was made chief spokesperson—a position that showcased his clarity, calmness, and command over facts.

Despite serving under nine state presidents, Bhattacharya remained a go-to man within the organisation, trusted for ideological clarity and internal coordination, even as others leapfrogged into power or drifted away.

Many in the party have long wondered why someone with his discipline and loyalty didn’t rise earlier. Some attribute the delay to internal sabotage.

“He’s that rare politician who knows who tried to block his path but never complains. He forgives and moves on. That sets him apart,” said a close associate.

His early electoral journey was a mixed bag. He lost the Shyampukur Assembly seat in 2006 and the Basirhat Lok Sabha seat in 2014. But later that year, he sprang a surprise by winning the Basirhat South Assembly bypoll, becoming the BJP’s first MLA from the area without riding on any alliance.

The party, which had just one MLA in the Assembly between 2001 and 2006, thanks to its then alliance with the TMC, saw Bhattacharya’s solo win as a turning point.

Although he lost the seat in 2016, his stature within the party remained intact. His credibility grew further after the high-pitched 2021 Assembly polls, when BJP emerged as the principal opposition despite the loss to Mamata Banerjee’s TMC.

A close aide claimed that in 2016, Bhattacharya was approached by the TMC with an offer to join and become a minister. He declined.

“His commitment to ideology and loyalty to the party never wavered. He often says that secrecy, belief in ideology, and loyalty to leadership are the bedrock of any strong political outfit,” the aide said.

Known for his calm demeanour, sharp oratory, and fact-based communication, he earned respect during his tenure as BJP’s chief spokesperson from 2020 to 2024, a period marked by intense confrontation with the TMC.

In April 2024, his nomination to the Rajya Sabha was seen as central recognition of his long, consistent service. In Parliament, he quickly made a mark, speaking on issues ranging from electoral reforms to federalism and internal security.

As he takes charge of a faction-ridden and demoralised state unit, Bhattacharya perhaps faces his toughest political test yet. The immediate challenge: bridging the rift between the old guard and the influx of leaders who defected from other parties post-2019.

Since the BJP’s 2021 Assembly poll defeat, the organisation has suffered desertions, infighting, and setbacks in the 2023 Panchayat polls and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Bhattacharya is now tasked with rebuilding booth-level strength, restoring discipline, and ensuring synergy between the legislature wing, led by Suvendu Adhikari, and the party organisation, previously helmed by Sukanta Majumdar.

Interestingly, his cordial ties with Adhikari are also being seen as a reason behind his elevation. The central leadership wants smooth coordination between the state president and the Leader of the Opposition as the party prepares for the upcoming assembly elections.

Not just Adhikari, he has always had good relationships with leaders who switched to BJP from other parties—be it Mukul Roy or Adhikari.

With Bhattacharya’s clean image, Sangh background, and communication finesse, the BJP sees hope for a turnaround in Bengal.

His appointment is being viewed as an attempt to bring back focus, cohesion, and purpose to a state unit that once dreamed of ruling Bengal.

Whether Bhattacharya can re-energise the cadre and mount a serious challenge to Mamata Banerjee’s dominance remains to be seen.

But few would deny that he has waited long enough and worked hard enough for this moment.