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M Chhaya in Kolkata
Bharatiya Janata Party's West Bengal unit chief Ashim Ghose was forced to resign on Thursday to facilitate the 'restructuring' of the party.
Union Minister of State for Fertilisers and Chemicals Tapan Sikdar and former BJP state unit chief said, "Our party high command has thought it fit to seek his [Ghose's] resignation as part of an ongoing exercise to restructure the state units."
Sikdar said the restructuring was being done in view of the panchayat elections in the state.
A reluctant Ghose submitted his resignation after BJP president Venkaiah Naidu reportedly asked him to step down.
Ghose's resignation is seen as a victory for Sikdar's faction, which is opposed to any relationship with the Trinamool Congress. Ghose was considered a moderate and reportedly had a soft corner for the Trinamool Congress.
But Sikdar denied that Ghose's removal was the result of any internal dissent.
Another reason, sources said, could be Ghose's inability to lead the party successfully in last year's state assembly election. The party had failed win even one seat in the 294-member house.
BJP insiders, however, admitted the party's central leadership was being 'influenced' by a section of state leaders.
Tathagata Roy, member of the party's national executive, is likely to succeed Ghose.
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