KOLKATA: Former Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh‘s re-emergence in party meetings during home minister Amit Shah’s Kolkata visit brought relief to party veterans, while absence of key Matua and Rajbangshi netas underscored unease before the 2026 polls. Ghosh was seen entering a New Town hotel where Shah was staying and attended a closed-door meeting with state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya, LoP Suvendu Adhikari and junior Union minister Sukanta Majumdar. Declining to discuss the meeting, Ghosh signalled readiness for a larger role. “I came to listen to Amit-ji. I will see what role the party decides,” he said. Sources said Ghosh is likely to be assigned a key campaign role after a prolonged absence and his meeting with CM Mamata Banerjee at Digha. Meanwhile, the absence of Gaighata MLA Subrata Thakur, Haringhata MLA Asim Sarkar and RS member Ananta Maharaj from Wednesday’s BJP meeting drew attention.