BJP to replace 8 district chiefs ahead of Bengal polls due to favouritism allegations

Two months after Samik Bhattacharya assumed charge as the West Bengal BJP president, the party is yet to announce its new state and district-level committees. The central leadership has reportedly asked the state unit to expedite the formation of these committees without further delay. Discussions are currently underway at the state headquarters regarding appointments and potential leadership changes in several districts.

Between August 1 and 4, a series of meetings were held at the party's Salt Lake office, where the state leadership, including Bhattacharya, reviewed proposed lists of district-level office-bearers. During these meetings, feedback was collected from party workers and senior leaders. According to sources, several of the submitted lists lacked transparency, with many alleging that the names were selected based on proximity to current district presidents rather than merit or experience.

A senior leader close to the state president stated, “If a district president cannot lead the entire party, how can we fight the 2026 Assembly election against Trinamool strongly in that area?” The concern reportedly centres around at least 7 to 8 districts where proposed appointments are being questioned for excluding eligible leaders in favour of close associates of district chiefs. Districts such as North 24 Parganas, Birbhum, Kolkata, and surrounding suburban regions are reportedly under review.

Samik Bhattacharya has, since taking office, emphasised the need to bridge differences between “old” and “new” BJP workers. He has conveyed the message that everyone should be treated equally as BJP karyakartas, without factionalism. However, sources claim that several district leaders have not followed this directive in preparing their lists. This has led to discontent among cadres and state-level officials reviewing the proposals.

As per the party’s internal structure, district presidents are elected every three to four months through organizational elections. However, the state leadership has the authority to remove them for organizational reasons if required. This has sparked internal debate about whether such changes would align with the party’s democratic framework. Final decisions on committee formation and possible leadership changes are expected soon.