Samik Bhattacharya takes charge as Bengal BJP president, promises decisive end to TMC’s misgovernance
by Utsav Roy62-year-old, senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya was unanimously chosen as West Bengal BJP president on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. Bhattacharya filed his nomination for the post alongside outgoing state president Sukanta Majumdar and West Bengal Assembly Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. With no other contenders by the nomination deadline, his election was uncontested.
At 62, Bhattacharya is a seasoned BJP loyalist with over forty years of association with the party. He witnessed the BJP’s growth in West Bengal from a modest 3% vote share in the 1990s to its current position. Since April 2024, he has served as Rajya Sabha MP representing West Bengal and holds the role of party spokesperson for the state. Known for his strong presence on news channels, he is a familiar face for BJP supporters.
Bhattacharya’s appointment comes ahead of West Bengal’s 2026 Assembly elections. Although BJP has become the primary opposition with nearly 38% vote share, it remains behind ruling Trinamool Congress, which secured around 48% in last year’s Lok Sabha elections. His mandate includes strengthening party organization, unifying rival factions, and leading election preparations. The BJP’s decision to have only Bhattacharya file nomination symbolizes efforts to project internal unity.
Previously, Bhattacharya served as MLA for Basirhat Dakshin from 2014 to 2016. He unsuccessfully contested the 2021 Assembly polls from Rajarhat Gopalpur. Selecting an upper-caste leader signals BJP’s aim to consolidate Hindu votes and appeal to Bengali Bhadralok voters. Meanwhile, Suvendu Adhikari continues as a prominent leader challenging Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Bhattacharya’s calm and educated demeanor mirrors that of his predecessor Sukanta Majumdar, an academic and MP for Balurghat since 2019, who became Union Minister of State for Education and Development of North East Region in 2024. This leadership transition marks BJP’s strategic push to strengthen its presence in West Bengal’s politically significant landscape.