Dilip Ghosh denies factionalism, slams Arjun Singh’s swings between BJP-TMC, defends Kunal Ghosh ties

BJP leader Dilip Ghosh has reacted strongly to comments questioning his association with Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kunal Ghosh. Responding to criticism from BJP's Sajal Ghosh, Dilip clarified that he considers everyone equally close and does not differentiate between leaders based on political affiliation. He stated, “Kunal Ghosh takes photos with me, Sajal Ghosh also does. I consider everyone close. If someone distances themselves, that’s their choice.” He added that he has no issue with who others were aligned with in the past, and said, “Dilip Ghosh once considers someone a friend, remains so till the end.”

In response to BJP MP Arjun Singh's comments comparing his and his wife's situation to that of late Congress leaders Somen Mitra and Shikha Mitra, Dilip Ghosh said that such comparisons hold no merit. “I have been fighting Mamata Banerjee since 2015 when these leaders were aligning with her. Now they’ve suddenly become BJP members, jumping from one platform to another,” he said. He accused some leaders of having no consistent loyalty, stating that they switch between BJP and TMC based on convenience.

Addressing speculations of growing political proximity with TMC, Ghosh rejected any such interpretation. He alleged that many of those now commenting on his position were once seeking favours. “Many of them used to roam around me for one or two lakh rupees. Some claimed to be advisors, others called themselves experts. Now they advise me,” he said. He challenged critics to prove he ever contacted any TMC leader in secret and said, “No one can say I made secret calls or went to Kalighat at night. If needed, they called me.”

Dilip Ghosh defended his position on Hindu politics, rejecting allegations of temple-based political messaging. He argued that BJP does not differentiate between temples and criticized those who do. “Puri’s Jagannath and Digha’s Jagannath are the same. BJP never said this is Modi’s temple or that is TMC’s temple. Those who divide temples based on politics should question themselves,” he said. He also recalled how different parties had tried to draw ideological lines between religious figures and their political associations.

On Soumitra Khan, Ghosh responded to personal criticism by pointing at the leader's shifting political affiliations and statements. “His wife said he has no intelligence. I didn’t say it,” Ghosh remarked. He added that Khan had spoken against multiple BJP leaders and questioned his credibility. Ghosh said such leaders have switched multiple parties and cannot speak about loyalty. Addressing an attack on his supporters in Sitai, Cooch Behar, he said, “I don’t have any camp. I am BJP. I was party president, people followed me. I still go where needed, even to places like Murshidabad and Malda, where others don’t go.”