Is Dilip Ghosh Ready to Contest the 2026 Bengal Polls from West Midnapore?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Dilip Ghosh is eager to run in the 2026 elections.
- He aims to return to the Kharagpur (Sadar) constituency.
- His previous experience includes serving as MLA and party president.
- Ghosh faced challenges in the 2024 elections, leading to a change in strategy.
- The decision ultimately rests with the party's central leadership.
Kolkata, July 23 (NationPress) Dilip Ghosh, the former national vice-president of BJP and ex-state president in West Bengal, expressed his interest in running as a party candidate for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. He aims to represent the same Assembly constituency where he was first elected in 2016.
In 2016, Ghosh ran from Kharagpur (Sadar) in the West Midnapore constituency. He vacated his MLA position from Kharagpur (Sadar) in 2019 after securing a win from the Midnapore Lok Sabha seat that same year.
In the 2024 elections, he contested for the Bardhaman-Durgapur constituency in the West Burdwan district but faced defeat.
“I had just taken on the role of state party president in 2016, and the central leadership instructed me to participate in the state assembly elections. I was offered a choice of seat and chose to run from Kharagpur (Sadar),” he remarked.
He highlighted his willingness to contest from Kharagpur (Sadar) again if the party decides on it.
“I can’t assert that I will be the candidate for Kharagpur (Sadar). That decision rests with the central leadership. However, if they call upon me to run, I will,” said Ghosh.
Nonetheless, Ghosh voiced his concerns regarding the party’s approach to relocate him as the candidate for the Bardhaman-Durgapur constituency in 2024 instead of Midnapore, where he was elected in 2019.
“The party tried a new strategy in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, but it didn’t succeed. The leadership must now evaluate this situation,” Ghosh stated.