Interview/ Dilip Ghosh, BJP leader
Relegated to the backseat two years ago, Dilip Ghosh is back as a prominent figure in the Bengal BJP with his victory from Kharagpur Sadar. As the party’s state president from 2015 to 2021, he played an important role in making the BJP a force in Bengal. After the party’s victory in the assembly elections, his name has come up as a chief minister probable. Excerpts from an interview:
Q/ Why did people choose the BJP in West Bengal?
People across the country have faith in Narendra Modi. The atmosphere of fear has ended. The people needed change. They needed a chance to vote, which they have done, which has changed everything.
Q/ What are the main factors that led to the BJP’s victory?
After PM Modi came into power, he focused on development of the country and we saw the benefits despite being attacked by the Trinamool Congress. These results are an outcome of our sacrifice. The people of Bengal believed in a BJP government and people have seen Modi’s efficient governance. Almost 50 lakh youth of Bengal have fled due to poverty. People also fled because of violence. People wanted to come back; they came this time to cast their vote. All this has resulted in parivartan (change).
Q/ Will the promise of bringing in industry be fulfilled?
Wherever the BJP comes to power, industry comes in there. In our neighbouring state of Odisha, new factories are being set up. The youth of Bengal, who have left for better opportunities, see the situation in other BJP-ruled states. The Tata factory went from here to Gujarat. So people associate the BJP with industry, jobs, earnings. PM Modi asked them to give the land of Bengal in our hands for five years so that we could change it. And people have faith in this.
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Q/ How did your organisational skills work in your favour?
[Midnapore] was a Hindu belt where the RSS was doing its work. But there was no mandal committee formed when I came in. After I came in, we grew the mandal committees to 1,200. We took youth into our organisational fold. They worked hard. There were attacks; my car was stopped and vandalised on various occasions, but people still connected with us. People in other parties knew that only the BJP could bring in change and they came into the party in the 2019 elections.
There was a rejig in the party after a downfall. We utilised people to work in the right direction. everyone worked together. Home Minister Amit Shah focussed on elections, which reaped good results this time.
Q/ Your name came up as a chief minister probable.
When this talk comes up, a lot of prominent faces crop up. But the party puts in a lot of thought and discussion looking at the environment and the current situation to take a decision. It will be a person from West Bengal. He will work in line with the party towards development.