Nearly two years ago, Dilip Ghosh was ‘effectively evicted’ from the BJP’s Muralidhar Sen Lane office in Kolkata. The air-conditioner and television in his room were removed, symbolising his marginalisation within the party. Times, however, have changed.
Following the recent high-level meeting chaired by Union home minister Amit Shah, Ghosh has again emerged with new vigour. The leader, once left “forlorn” at Muralidhar Sen Lane, has now been allotted his own room at the BJP’s Salt Lake office – a clear signal of political rehabilitation. With only a few months left before the 2026 Assembly elections, the BJP’s central leadership appears to have realised that ignoring Dilip Ghosh’s charisma and grassroots connect could prove costly.
The party’s poor performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections seems to have reinforced this assessment. It is against this backdrop that Amit Shah himself stepped in to placate Ghosh, conveying a firm message that internal discord would not be tolerated ahead of 2026. The objective, sources say, is unambiguous: all factions must fight together to form a BJP government in Bengal. The “Shah signal” has visibly energised Ghosh. Making his position clear, he has asserted that he has always been with the party and will continue to be so. While his return to active politics is now evident, speculation continues over the exact role he will be assigned.
There were indications that Ghosh might be given charge of one of the BJP’s five organisational zones in the state. However, this proposal appears to have run into resistance. Party insiders point out that Ghosh’s prolonged absence from organisational responsibilities had led many of his loyal supporters to drift away from active politics. His return is expected to bring them back into the field. Assigning him responsibility for just one zone, after he had once overseen the entire state as BJP president, could risk alienating his followers — a factor that might ultimately impact the party’s electoral prospects. The leadership, therefore, is proceeding with caution.
Sources now suggest that Ghosh may be entrusted with a major role within the BJP’s state committee. Beyond organisational positions, the party is also believed to have decided to project him prominently in the 2026 campaign. After being conspicuously absent from Narendra Modi and Amit Shah’s rallies the last few times, Ghosh is likely to return to the centre stage, delivering his trademark vocal energy to motivate workers and supporters.
Senior BJP leaders are confident that his presence will have at least some impact on the party’s electoral fortunes in 2026, even as the final contours of his role remain shrouded in uncertainty.