RSS men set to head BJP's Bengal, Kerala units soon

New Delhi, Dec 10: With an eye to the 2016 assembly elections in West Bengal and Kerala, the BJP is all set to effect a change of guard -- RSS men Dilip Ghosh and R. Balashankar are likely to head the party's West Bengal and Kerala units respectively.

Ghosh, a general secretary in the state Bharatiya Janata Party, is likely to replace Rahul Sinha, whose term as president of the party's West Bengal unit has ended.

Ghosh, an Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh pracharak (volunteer), was sent to the BJP about a year ago.

"It's certain that Rahul Sinha will not be given an extension. There is a consensus on Ghosh's name as the next (BJP state unit) president," a senior BJP functionary told IANS on the condition of anonymity.

"Soon...very soon," he said when asked about the announcement.

He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah have given a nod to Ghosh's name.

The West Bengal unit of the BJP, under the leadership of Sinha, failed to leave any impact in the recently concluded panchayat and civic body elections. He was re-elected as president in 2012 for three years.

R. Balashankar, an RSS ideologue, is likely to replace V. Muraleedharan, who has completed two consecutive terms as Kerala unit chief of the BJP.

Balashankar, a former editor of RSS mouthpiece Organiser, at present heads the BJP's publications department. He has also headed the BJP's intellectual cell.

BJP sources told IANS that "Balashankar will soon replace Muraleedharan".

IANS