Former West Bengal BJP President Dilip Ghosh says celebration didn’t invite him to PM rally, offers it a miss

“The celebration cadre had referred to as me to attend the rally. But the celebration didn’t invite me. Maybe they don’t want me there; it will make them uncomfortable. So, I can’t go to the Prime Minister’s rally. I’m going to Delhi as an alternative, for some work associated to the celebration,” Mr Ghosh instructed media individuals on the Kolkata airport earlier than departing for Delhi. 

In Delhi, he was seen going to the residence of nationwide BJP president JP Nadda, and leaving in a couple of minutes. Meanwhile, on the identical day, in West Bengal’s Durgapur, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated key improvement initiatives and attended a celebration rally. 

Mr. Ghosh has notably remained absent from vital celebration occasions and rallies within the current previous, together with occasions attended by Prime Minister Modi at Alipurduar and Home Minister Amit Shah in Kolkata this yr. 

His absence on Friday assumes significance contemplating the upcoming Martyrs’ Day rally by the Trinamool on July 21. Speculations are rife that Mr Ghosh is probably becoming a member of Trinamool. 

Amid reviews of a souring relationship between Mr. Ghosh and the State BJP management, the newly appointed West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya had reached out to Mr Ghosh on July 8 this yr. 

After their in-person assembly, Mr. Bhattacharya described Mr. Ghosh because the “coronary heart and soul” of the celebration, whereas Mr. Ghosh stated that he’ll comply with directions from the celebration management like every other celebration employee. 

Mr. Ghosh is a senior chief of the BJP within the State and has served as a nationwide vp and State president of the BJP. Under his management, the BJP had gained 18 out of the State’s 42 Lok Sabha seats in 2019.

He was earlier elected as an MP from Medinipur in 2019 and an MLA from Kharagpur Sadar in 2016.

In May this yr, Mr. Ghosh drew criticism from the BJP when he met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the inauguration of the Digha Jagannath Temple. The erstwhile State BJP President, Sukanta Majumder, was fast to make clear to the media that the celebration had determined to not attend the temple inauguration, and Mr, Ghosh’s presence was in his private capability.