By News18
In a significant political development, veteran BJP leader Samik Bhattacharya has been unanimously elected as the State President of the BJP in West Bengal. With just eight months left until the crucial 2026 Assembly elections, Bhattacharya will lead the party鈥檚 campaign as its new captain in Bengal. In an exclusive interview with News18, he said, 鈥淭MC鈥檚 鈥榲isarjan鈥 (immersion) will happen in 2026.鈥
鈥淭he people of Bengal want 鈥淢ukti鈥 (liberation) from the current regime. This is not just an election 鈥 it鈥檚 a fight for the soul of Bengal,鈥 Bhattacharya said, adding that change in government in the state will be his top priority.
Here are edited excerpts from the interview:
Q: What will be your first area of focus as State President?
Samik Bhattacharya: Our top priority is to bring about a change in government. The people of Bengal want mukti (liberation) from the current regime. This is not just an election 鈥 it鈥檚 a fight for the soul of Bengal. People across communities are ready to oust the TMC government.
We started when BJP had no presence in Bengal. Today, there鈥檚 a new generation, and we will blend their energy with the experience of the old guard. BJP has changed the national narrative, and now it鈥檚 Bengal鈥檚 turn. The state is stuck in a cycle of political hegemony. The public is ready; the demographic has shifted. This will not be a party-driven election 鈥 the people will form the narrative. The first step is removing TMC.
Q: With just eight months left until the polls 鈥 is this an opportunity or a challenge?
Samik Bhattacharya: For me, Samik Bhattacharya is not important. This election is about collective leadership. In Bengal, this time the leader is the people 鈥 Janata hi neta hai.
Even the minority communities will support us. They must choose whether they want a future of books or of stones for their children. Mamata Banerjee has used them politically but failed to uplift them. I appeal to the minority community: what have you truly received under her rule? Nearly 90 per cent of political violence victims in the state have been from minority communities.
We want more APJ Abdul Kalams and Kazi Nazrul Islams to emerge from Bengal. No one should be afraid of chanting 鈥楻am Naam鈥.
Q: There are reports of internal rifts 鈥 old vs new leadership. How will you handle that?
Samik Bhattacharya: I鈥檓 60 鈥 I can鈥檛 compete with a 21-year-old. The old generation must trust the new. But the old guard is still vital. In this fight, all sections of the party will stand united. The new generation needs to understand the struggle we endured when BJP had no foothold in Bengal. This upcoming election is a battle for survival, and we鈥檒l face it together.
Q: Will religion and polarisation play a major role in this election?
Samik Bhattacharya: Since the 1980s, we鈥檝e been warning about demographic invasion. The survival of the Bengali Hindu identity is at stake, and we鈥檒l fight to protect it.
Bengal is also facing an industrial crisis 鈥 businesses have left, industries have collapsed. We will bring change. We will not let Bengal become another Bangladesh. In 1947, leaders like Jyoti Basu ensured Bengal remained part of India. That legacy is now under threat. People are aware of this, and they want a course correction.
Q: Are you taking a more hardline Hindutva stance?
Samik Bhattacharya: Bengal has always been a land of pluralism. Mamata Banerjee often quotes Sri Ramakrishna鈥檚 saying 鈥淛ato Mat Tato Path鈥 (many faiths, many paths), but can such pluralism survive in Bengal today?
We will uphold our ideology. Bengal is facing a brain drain 鈥 engineers here earn just Rs 16,000 while many move to Bengaluru, where Bengali is now one of the most spoken languages. Industrialists are fleeing the state. We must change this trajectory.
Q: Are Hindus under threat in areas like Murshidabad?
Samik Bhattacharya: Yes. Despite challenges, our BJP workers are active in Murshidabad. Everyone knows the situation there. Our flag still flies high because of their courage.
Q: There鈥檚 criticism that BJP has voters but can鈥檛 mobilise them to booths. Your response?
Samik Bhattacharya: That鈥檚 a false narrative. In reality, voters are attacked with the help of the police and anti-social elements. That鈥檚 the real barrier. Our task is to restore voter confidence.
Q: Critics say BJP failed to stand by victims of post-poll violence. Is that true?
Samik Bhattacharya: Not at all. For instance, in Dum Dum, a BJP worker was killed. We wanted to visit, but other workers warned us that it would lead to further attacks on their homes. It was a sensitive situation.
Q: Mamata Banerjee is the face of TMC. Who is the BJP鈥檚 face in Bengal? How do you see Suvendu Adhikari?
Samik Bhattacharya: This election is about regime change, not about individuals. Suvendu Adhikari is a natural leader 鈥 he defeated Mamata Banerjee herself and remains constantly connected with the people. BJP doesn鈥檛 revolve around one face 鈥 our ideology is our strength. We鈥檝e never projected a CM face, and that tradition continues.
Q: Are you confident of defeating TMC in the next assembly elections?
Samik Bhattacharya: Will TMC even survive until 2026? I have serious doubts. We are not talking about invoking Article 356 or martyrdom 鈥 but yes, TMC鈥檚 鈥榲isarjan鈥 (immersion) will happen in 2026.