Kolkata, March 15 As the BJP prepares for the West Bengal assembly elections as part of its effort to challenge the ruling TMC, several leaders, such as Suvendu Adhikari, are expected to play key roles in shaping its high-stakes campaign.
From securing just about 4 per cent of the vote share in the 2011 assembly elections to emerging as the principal opposition with over 38 per cent of the vote share in 2021, the BJP has significantly expanded its political presence in West Bengal. The party currently has 12 Lok Sabha MPs and more than 65 MLAs in the state.
Some of the prominent figures within the party who are likely to contest the elections include:
Suvendu Adhikari: The leader of the opposition in the assembly, Suvendu Adhikari remains one of the most prominent leaders of the BJP in the state and is expected to play a central role in the upcoming elections.
A former TMC leader who joined the BJP ahead of the 2021 polls, Adhikari gained national attention after defeating Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Nandigram, one of the most closely watched contests of that election.
Coming from the politically influential Adhikari family of Purba Medinipur, he has a strong organizational network across the coastal districts and the 'Jungle Mahal' belt.
Adhikari, known for his assertive campaigning style, has been at the forefront of the BJP's efforts to expand its presence in south Bengal.
Within the BJP, he is widely regarded as one of the trusted aides of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the party's principal strategist, when it comes to Bengal politics.
As the state heads into another fiercely contested election, Adhikari is expected to spearhead the BJP's campaign, focusing on issues such as corruption, governance failures, and law-and-order concerns.
For the BJP cadre, his political experience, grassroots connections, and combative rhetoric make him the party's principal field commander.
Dilip Ghosh: Former state BJP president Dilip Ghosh is regarded as one of the leaders who played a major role in expanding the party's organizational base in West Bengal.
A former RSS pracharak, Ghosh led the BJP's growth phase in the state between 2015 and 2021, which culminated in the party winning 18 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Medinipur in that election.
However, his political career faced challenges after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, when he lost after being shifted from Medinipur to Bardhaman–Durgapur. He had also publicly expressed disagreements with organizational decisions under then-president Sukanta Majumdar, highlighting internal issues within the state unit.
These tensions became more apparent when Ghosh attended the inauguration of the Jagannath temple in Digha, with his newly-wedded wife, at the invitation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. This episode drew criticism from sections of the party's leadership.
After Samik Bhattacharya was appointed state BJP president in 2025, leaders such as Ghosh, who had been sidelined in recent years, began to regain prominence.
BJP leaders continue to view his organizational experience and grassroots connections as important as the party prepares to contest the assembly elections.
Shankar Ghosh: Shankar Ghosh, an MLA from Siliguri, is considered one of the key figures of the BJP in north Bengal. He served as the party’s chief whip in the Assembly and is known for his oratory skills, legislative interventions, and organizational coordination.
A former CPI(M) leader, he joined the BJP ahead of the 2021 assembly elections and defeated TMC candidate Om Prakash Mishra from the Siliguri constituency by a margin of over 35,000 votes.
A doctorate in microbiology, Ghosh has been actively involved in issues related to development and governance, particularly in north Bengal.
Agnimitra Paul: BJP leader Agnimitra Paul, the MLA from Asansol Dakshin, is among the prominent women leaders of the party in the state.
A fashion designer before entering politics, she joined the BJP in 2019 and has held several organizational posts, including president of the state Mahila Morcha and general secretary. She currently serves as a vice president of the state unit.
Paul defeated TMC candidate Saayoni Ghosh in the 2021 assembly elections but faced defeats in the 2022 Asansol Lok Sabha bypoll and the 2024 general elections from Medinipur.
She has been actively involved in raising issues related to alleged corruption, political violence, and governance, both inside and outside the assembly.
Rekha Patra: Rekha Patra emerged as a prominent figure of the BJP during the Sandeshkhali protests, which the party sought to highlight as an issue of alleged atrocities against women and local governance failures.
A housewife, Patra rose to prominence during the protests against TMC strongman Sheikh Shahjahan, with the BJP portraying her as a victim who turned into a voice of resistance against what it described as local-level misgovernance.
The BJP fielded Patra as its candidate from the Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency in 2024. The party mounted an aggressive campaign around this issue, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi describing her as 'Shakti Swaroopa', or the embodiment of feminine strength.
She lost to the Trinamool Congress candidate by a significant margin. Despite this defeat, she continues to feature in the BJP'S political messaging around the Sandeshkhali issue as the party prepares for the assembly elections.