Former Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh meets incumbent Samik Bhattacharya

SIGNALS TRUCE BEFORE 2026 POLLS

- OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOLKATA: Days after taking charge as West Bengal BJP president, Samik Bhattacharya pulled off a political stunt on Tuesday by bringing former state chief Dilip Ghosh back into the party spotlight, ending weeks of speculation over the latter's resentment and possible defection ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls.

At the BJP's Salt Lake state headquarters, where hundreds of workers gathered, Bhattacharya and Ghosh met in full public view, embraced, and jointly signaled that a "united BJP" will now take the battle to the doorstep of the ruling Trinamool Congress.

The move was seen as not just symbolic, but strategic as well. Bhattacharya had personally called Ghosh, who was notably absent from his recently held induction ceremony and party events, amid a buzz that the former state chief was being sidelined and might jump ship. On Tuesday, that buzz was laid to rest.