Loyalists threaten revolt as Dilip Ghosh faces party backlash over Digha temple visit

They alleged that Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and state party chief Sukanta Majumdar have sidelined them for their association with Ghosh

- STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE

A storm is brewing within West Bengal's BJP unit ahead of the crucial 2026 Assembly elections, triggered by senior party leader Dilip Ghosh's controversial visit to the Digha Jagannath temple.

The move — seen by some as a challenge to the current party leadership — has laid bare deepening fault lines in the state unit, sparking speculation of a looming rebellion.

Sources inside the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) say that disciplinary action may be on the cards for Ghosh, a former state president and long-time RSS functionary.

But insiders warned that any such move could backfire spectacularly.

"It's not just about one visit or one leader," a party source told this correspondent.

"A large section of grassroots workers, rural leaders, and district functionaries remain fiercely loyal to Dilip-da. Punishing him could trigger a full-blown mutiny."

Adding fuel to the fire, BJP Rajya Sabha MP and former state president Samik Bhattacharya acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue in a recent press conference.