Once a central figure in the internal dynamics of the West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party, Ashim Kumar Ghosh has re-emerged in public life with his appointment as the Governor of Haryana. Ghosh, a former political science professor, served as the last elected president of the West Bengal BJP, holding office from 1999 to 2002 during a turbulent phase of the party’s growth in the state.
His elevation to the top post was deeply rooted in intra-party equations and ideological allegiances. After BJP leader Tapan Sikdar vacated the post due to the party’s ‘one person, one post’ policy upon becoming a Union Minister, Ghosh was first appointed president without a formal election. But in the 2000 internal polls, he secured the presidency by defeating senior BJP leader Sukumar Banerjee by a narrow margin of 34 votes.
That election turned out to be one of the most divisive episodes in the Bengal BJP’s history. Supported by Sikdar and enjoying Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh support, Ghosh squared off against Banerjee, who was backed by a powerful faction including future state leaders such as Shamik Bhattacharya, Rahul Singh, Colonel Sabyasachi Bagchi and Parash Dutta. Upon winning, Ghosh decisively removed his rivals from the state committee, including present state president Bhattacharya, asserting his control over the party organisation.
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During his tenure, Ghosh was recognised as a skilled orator and an effective organiser. He had joined the BJP in 1991 with the help of Prabhakar Tiwari and contested the Kashipur Assembly seat the same year. Although he lost, it marked the beginning of his active involvement in politics. By 1996, he had become a state secretary and two years later, he rose to the position of vice-president before assuming the presidency in 1999.
However, his hold over the party lasted only until 2002. Once his term ended, the opposing faction — led by Rahul and Shamik — regained dominance. Tathagata Roy, who enjoyed the backing of the Rahul-Shamik faction, was appointed the next state BJP president, effectively sidelining Ghosh. Although Ghosh was later inducted into the BJP’s national committee for a time, his influence steadily declined, and he eventually withdrew almost entirely from public political life.
For nearly 20 years, Ghosh maintained a low profile, with only occasional appearances and sporadic involvement in party affairs. But during Rahul Sinha’s tenure as state president, Ghosh was seen re-engaging with the party. His presence at high-profile events, including leadership announcement ceremonies and internal organisational functions, signalled his gradual return to the BJP circle. Party insiders had speculated about his potential appointment to a constitutional post— and on Monday, those whispers were confirmed.
Ghosh now becomes the fourth political figure from West Bengal to be appointed a state governor. He follows Siddhartha Shankar Ray (Punjab), Vishnukant Shastri (Uttar Pradesh), and Tathagata Roy (Tripura and Meghalaya)— all of whom had deep roots in Bengal politics.
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