With RSS Pracharak Dilip Ghosh heading Bengal unit, BJP members fear losing Muslim votes

KOLKATA: The restructuring of the BJP’s West Bengal unit may alienate the party further from the minorities, local leaders said, referring to the appointment of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh pracharak Dilip Ghosh as the president of the state unit.

With Ghosh’s ascension, the top three leaders in the BJP’s state unit including two general secretaries are now from the RSS, the party’s ideological mentor. This is expected to pave the way for according first priority to Hindutva in a state where Muslims comprise a third of the electorate, senior BJP functionaries rued. Any such polarisation is likely to benefit Chief Minister Mamata Banerjeeled Trinamool Congress, they said.

“In Bengal, minority votes are the most important factor for winning an election. The minority card has been played both by TMC and the Left Front. Since Hindu votes never consolidate, we needed a good share of minority votes too,” a senior BJP leader said on condition of anonymity. He said further, “Our party has been putting up a secular face to win the confidence of the minorities.

In this situation, a pracharak leading the party might affect those efforts. Moreover, Dilip Ghosh is new to the organisation and has less political experience.” Chandan Mitra, a senior BJP leader, however said, “Our organisation in Bengal is weak at present. I am hopeful that Dilip Ghosh will utilise his capabilities to strengthen the organisation before making a serious bid for power.” Mitra was once considered a strong contender for becoming president of the party’s state unit.

Meanwhile, RSS functionaries made it clear that the Sangh never had an issue with the former BJP president Rahul Sinha, who has been honoured and appointed as national secretary in the party.