“I haven’t created distance with anyone,” says Dilip Ghosh after left out of PM Modi and Shah events

Dilip Ghosh, senior BJP leader and former West Bengal state president, was absent from two major BJP events held on consecutive days in Bengal. On Saturday, Ghosh was not invited to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Alipurduar. On Sunday, he was again excluded from the BJP workers’ meeting in Kolkata addressed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Regarding his absence from the meetings, Ghosh said, “I wasn’t always present at all events earlier either. I used to attend core committee meetings when invited. I don’t know who was called today. When I’m needed, I’ll be invited.” He added that he remains active within the party, frequently meeting grassroots workers, attending tea gatherings, and participating in Tiranga Yatras. “I fulfil whatever responsibilities are given to me,” he said.

Ghosh emphasized that he has not created any distance with party leaders or members. He also reminded that his political rise in West Bengal began under Amit Shah’s leadership. “Just as Modi ji energised North Bengal workers, Amit Shah will do the same in South Bengal,” he stated.

Internal factionalism and factional rivalries within the BJP in West Bengal have been longstanding. However, the omission of a senior leader like Ghosh from two consecutive important party events has led to widespread discussion among political circles about the party’s internal dynamics.

The workers’ meeting in Kolkata led by Amit Shah is widely viewed as the formal start of the BJP’s preparation for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. The event is considered a key platform for conveying the party’s strategic direction and mobilising its cadre ahead of the polls.