‘TMC’s Visarjan In 2026’: Samik Bhattacharya Takes Cost As Bengal BJP President | Interview
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With simply eight months left till the essential 2026 Meeting elections, Bhattacharya will lead BJP’s marketing campaign as its new captain in Bengal
Samik Bhattacharya is the brand new BJP West Bengal chief. (Picture: X/SamikBJP)
In a major political improvement, veteran BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya has been unanimously elected because the State President of the BJP in West Bengal. With simply eight months left till the essential 2026 Meeting elections, Bhattacharya will lead the occasion’s marketing campaign as its new captain in Bengal. In an unique interview with News18, he stated, “TMC’s ‘visarjan’ (immersion) will occur in 2026.”
“The folks of Bengal need “Mukti” (liberation) from the present regime. This isn’t simply an election — it’s a combat for the soul of Bengal,” Bhattacharya stated, including that change in authorities within the state can be his prime precedence.
Listed here are edited excerpts from the interview:
Q: What can be your first space of focus as State President?
Samik Bhattacharya: Our prime precedence is to convey a couple of change in authorities. The folks of Bengal need mukti (liberation) from the present regime. This isn’t simply an election — it’s a combat for the soul of Bengal. Folks throughout communities are able to oust the TMC authorities.
We began when BJP had no presence in Bengal. At present, there’s a brand new era, and we’ll mix their power with the expertise of the previous guard. BJP has modified the nationwide narrative, and now it’s Bengal’s flip. The state is caught in a cycle of political hegemony. The general public is prepared; the demographic has shifted. This won’t be a party-driven election — the folks will type the narrative. Step one is eradicating TMC.
Q: With simply eight months left till the polls — is that this a chance or a problem?
Samik Bhattacharya: For me, Samik Bhattacharya will not be essential. This election is about collective management. In Bengal, this time the chief is the folks — Janata hello neta hai.
Even the minority communities will assist us. They need to select whether or not they need a way forward for books or of stones for his or her kids. Mamata Banerjee has used them politically however didn’t uplift them. I attraction to the minority neighborhood: what have you ever really obtained beneath her rule? Practically 90 per cent of political violence victims within the state have been from minority communities.
We would like extra APJ Abdul Kalams and Kazi Nazrul Islams to emerge from Bengal. Nobody needs to be afraid of chanting ‘Ram Naam’.
Q: There are studies of inner rifts — previous vs new management. How will you deal with that?
Samik Bhattacharya: I’m 60 — I can’t compete with a 21-year-old. The previous era should belief the brand new. However the previous guard remains to be very important. On this combat, all sections of the occasion will stand united. The brand new era wants to know the wrestle we endured when BJP had no foothold in Bengal. This upcoming election is a battle for survival, and we’ll face it collectively.
Q: Will faith and polarisation play a significant position on this election?
Samik Bhattacharya: Because the Eighties, we’ve been warning about demographic invasion. The survival of the Bengali Hindu identification is at stake, and we’ll combat to guard it.
Bengal can also be going through an industrial disaster — companies have left, industries have collapsed. We are going to convey change. We won’t let Bengal grow to be one other Bangladesh. In 1947, leaders like Jyoti Basu ensured Bengal remained a part of India. That legacy is now beneath risk. Individuals are conscious of this, they usually need a course correction.
Q: Are you taking a extra hardline Hindutva stance?
Samik Bhattacharya: Bengal has all the time been a land of pluralism. Mamata Banerjee usually quotes Sri Ramakrishna’s saying “Jato Mat Tato Path” (many religions, many paths), however can such pluralism survive in Bengal right now?
We are going to uphold our ideology. Bengal is going through a mind drain — engineers right here earn simply Rs 16,000 whereas many transfer to Bengaluru, the place Bengali is now some of the spoken languages. Industrialists are fleeing the state. We should change this trajectory.
Q: Are Hindus beneath risk in areas like Murshidabad?
Samik Bhattacharya: Sure. Regardless of challenges, our BJP employees are energetic in Murshidabad. Everybody is aware of the scenario there. Our flag nonetheless flies excessive due to their braveness.
Q: There’s criticism that BJP has voters however can’t mobilise them to cubicles. Your response?
Samik Bhattacharya: That’s a false narrative. In actuality, voters are attacked with the assistance of the police and anti-social parts. That’s the actual barrier. Our job is to revive voter confidence.
Q: Critics say BJP failed to face by victims of post-poll violence. Is that true?
Samik Bhattacharya: In no way. For example, in Dum Dum, a BJP employee was killed. We needed to go to, however different employees warned us that it will result in additional assaults on their properties. It was a delicate scenario.
Q: Mamata Banerjee is the face of TMC. Who’s the BJP’s face in Bengal? How do you see Suvendu Adhikari?
Samik Bhattacharya: This election is about regime change, not about people. Suvendu Adhikari is a pure chief — he defeated Mamata Banerjee herself and stays consistently related with the folks. BJP doesn’t revolve round one face — our ideology is our power. We’ve by no means projected a CM face, and that custom continues.
Q: Are you assured of defeating TMC within the subsequent meeting elections?
Samik Bhattacharya: Will TMC even survive till 2026? I’ve severe doubts. We’re not speaking about invoking Article 356 or martyrdom — however sure, TMC’s ‘visarjan’ (immersion) will occur in 2026.
Kamalika Sengupta, Editor, Digital East of News18, is a multilingual journalist with 16 years of expertise in masking the northeast, with specialisation in politics and defence. She has gained UNICEF Laadli Awar…Learn Extra
Kamalika Sengupta, Editor, Digital East of News18, is a multilingual journalist with 16 years of expertise in masking the northeast, with specialisation in politics and defence. She has gained UNICEF Laadli Awar… Learn Extra
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