Kolkata, Mar 18 (PTI) Asserting that he has “completed his innings”, former West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh on Tuesday said the party should look at new names for the post of its state president.
Ghosh, however, did not rule out another stint as the state party chief, in response to queries by journalists on whether he was ready to play one more innings.
"I have completed my innings. I have been president twice," he said outside the assembly, after meeting Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and other party MLAs.
"New names should be contemplated," Ghosh said, adding, the new president will be elected in a democratic manner.
Asked whether he was ready to play a third innings, he said, "A player should be prepared to play in every pitch and ground."
The former MP said elections to the post of the Bengal BJP chief, which is held every three years, will commence soon.
Ghosh's meeting with Adhikari and other party MLAs in the assembly comes in the backdrop of the impending election for a new state president of the BJP in West Bengal.
The BJP leader had lost from the Asansol constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Ghosh also said he comes to the assembly almost every session to meet the party legislators.
With the assembly polls scheduled to be held in 2026, Ghosh said he will be present in party programmes with Adhikari, as well as alone.
"All of us, including the state president of the party, will hit the streets (ahead of the assembly polls)," he said.
Ghosh also said he would participate in programmes celebrating Ram Navami in the state to encourage the Hindu community to observe the occasion.
He said attempts to disrupt Ram Navami celebrations had been made in the past, both in West Bengal and in other states, including some BJP-ruled ones.
Ghosh, however, asserted that such attempts will ultimately not succeed.