Samik in Delhi today as BJP’s poll prep intensifies

Kolkata: Bengal BJP seniors are likely to meet the election management committee of the party next week to discuss the primary list of candidates. State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya, who flew to New Delhi on Monday, might meet Union home minister Amit Shah on Tuesday.

Bengal BJP sources indicated that Bhattacharya met key party functionaries and spoke at length Monday. "The election management committee might meet by next week. The party already has a list of candidates and a primary list will be prepared after rounds of discussion with state and district members," a Bengal BJP senior said. The list will then be sent to the brass in New Delhi.


Bengal BJP in-charge Mangal Pandey is scheduled to reach Kolkata on Tuesday. He will hold meetings with local netas and workers in North and South Dinajpur, and Malda. Other election management committee members are also likely to reach Kolkata this week.

BJP seniors, meanwhile, flagged concerns over possible deletion of Hindu voters across assembly constituencies. "The special intensive revision (SIR) is ongoing and Trinamool is trying to derail the entire process. They have a single agenda to keep Rohingya on the voter list," Bhattacharya said Monday.

"We will see if people of Bengal have assessed the threat properly. That will be reflected in the election results," he said.

Leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who left for New Delhi on Monday afternoon, said the effort to stall the SIR was foiled. "Mamata Banerjee tried to stall the process by moving the Supreme Court. She tried to enter the 2026 assembly election with the 2024 voter list," Adhikari said. He is also likely to meet key BJP seniors in New Delhi on Tuesday.

State BJP seniors said they are in touch with Shah's office for his visit in the third week of February.