Kolkata, 1 May (H.S.) –
A surprise meeting between BJP leader and former West Bengal state president Dilip Ghosh and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the newly inaugurated Jagannath Temple in Digha has triggered discontent within the state BJP unit, raising speculation about possible shifts in political alignments ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
Ghosh visited the temple on Wednesday evening along with his wife, Rinku Majumdar, following a personal invitation from the Chief Minister. Although Mamata had left for Kolkata earlier in the day to inspect the site of the tragic Burrabazar fire, she reportedly turned back midway upon learning of Ghosh’s arrival. The two were seen engaged in a warm conversation, with visuals and videos of their interaction going viral on social media.
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Lone Opposition Face at a state Event
The occasion was the official inauguration of the grand Jagannath Temple on Akshaya Tritiya, a major Hindu festival. While several ministers, senior TMC leaders, and dignitaries were present, Ghosh was the only face from the Opposition to attend. His presence stood out amid an otherwise TMC-dominated event.
TMC leaders, including Minister Aroop Biswas and party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh, welcomed the BJP leader and his wife at the temple. Later, the couple visited the Chief Minister’s guest house for a cordial exchange with Banerjee. Ghosh praised the temple’s grandeur and expressed admiration for its architecture, reportedly telling Banerjee he was deeply impressed.
Though the visit was described as personal by Ghosh, BJP leaders were quick to express their displeasure.
West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar distanced the party from Ghosh’s visit, stating, “After recent incidents of attacks on Hindus and vandalism of temples in Malda and Murshidabad, no BJP leader was supposed to attend the event. It was a collective party decision.”
Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari made a veiled comment without naming Ghosh, saying he doesn’t comment on anyone’s “affections or attachments,” and focused only on responding to the Chief Minister.
BJP MP from Bishnupur, Saumitra Khan, posted a scathing message on social media: “From renunciate to indulgent — the perfect example,” likening Ghosh’s behavior to former BJP leaders Babul Supriyo and Mukul Roy, who later joined TMC. Former BJP national secretary Anupam Hazra also took a dig, saying, “Dilip Da, you just got married, now it’s time to chill.”
Ghosh, who recently married Rinku Majumdar on April 18 at the age of 61, had already highlighted intra-party tensions during his wedding, where a clear divide between the ‘old guard’ and the ‘new camp’ was visible. While Mamata Banerjee had sent her wishes then, they did not meet in person — until now.
This public interaction between Mamata Banerjee and Dilip Ghosh — his first since the wedding — has further exposed the internal fractures within the BJP’s Bengal unit. As political observers look for deeper meanings behind this “personal visit,” questions are now being raised: Is Dilip Ghosh drifting away from the BJP? And could this meeting signal something more significant on the political horizon?
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
