BJP KEEPS KMC TICKET SPECULATION AT BAY: SAMIK BHATTACHARYA DISMISSES TALK OF EX-TMC COUNCILLORS JOINING THE RACE

October 23, 2026

West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya has dismissed speculation that former Trinamool Congress councillors could receive BJP tickets for the upcoming Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections, seeking to put an end to reports surrounding the party’s possible candidate choices.

The discussion over whether former councillors associated with the ruling Trinamool Congress would be accommodated by the BJP has drawn attention ahead of the civic polls. The prospect of candidates switching political sides has raised questions about the party’s approach to selecting nominees and the role that former members of rival parties might play in its electoral strategy.

Bhattacharya’s remarks indicate that the BJP leadership is not endorsing the speculation surrounding ticket distribution. However, the final list of candidates and the party’s decisions regarding individual aspirants will be crucial in determining its approach to the municipal contest.

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation elections are politically significant for parties seeking to consolidate their influence in the state capital. The BJP has been working to strengthen its position in West Bengal, while the Trinamool Congress has sought to maintain its organisational dominance in Kolkata’s civic administration.

Candidate selection is likely to remain an important issue as political parties prepare for the elections. The possibility of former councillors changing political allegiance has added another dimension to discussions about local leadership, organisational loyalty and electoral calculations.

For now, Bhattacharya has brushed aside the reports concerning former Trinamool councillors receiving BJP nominations. The party’s eventual candidate announcements will establish whether any such names feature in its electoral plans.