Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh on Saturday voiced hope for Mamata Banerjee’s “well being” and said she was likely to become “the first Bengali Prime Minister”.

“Yes, her staying healthy is important because if a Bengali is to become Prime Minister, her chances are there,” Ghosh said, responding to a question at a news conference here. He had earlier dismissed suggestions about the Trinamul chief’s “prime ministerial ambition” as a “pipe dream”.

Asked on Saturday why a Bengali from his own party could not become Prime Minister, Ghosh said it could happen after Mamata. “Maybe after that, she has the first chance. In the list of prime ministerial probables, her name is the first.”

Sources said the statement could be part of a ploy to draw the Bengal chief minister out of efforts to consolidate anti-BJP forces under the Congress’s umbrella.

Although what Ghosh said virtually echoed the Trinamul leadership’s assertions, senior party leaders declined comment on the remarks. “Anything he does or says is to be taken with a pinch of salt. But if he has indeed undergone a change of heart, his party will destroy him,” said a Trinamul leader.

At the news conference, Ghosh repeatedly stressed the need for Mamata’s good health. “We want her to stay in good health…Pranab (Mukherjee) Babu became President. Now a Bengali should become Prime Minister,” said Ghosh, asked if he had a message for her on her “birthday”.

According to sources close to Mamata, she was born during Durga Puja. But records in Parliament, from her stint in the Lok Sabha, indicate she was born on January 5, 1955.

“We lost out on Jyoti (Basu) Babu by a whisker. His party did not let him become Prime Minister,” Ghosh said about the CPM stalwart who was seen an arch-enemy of the RSS-BJP parivar.

Ghosh wished Mamata “a successful life” and linked it to Bengal’s “fate”.

“I convey to her our best wishes for her birthday. We want her to be healthy and have a successful life. On her success depends the fate of Bengal. She should live well and work well. We want that. I cannot write to her, so I am letting her know this through the media,” Ghosh, also the Kharagpur Sadar MLA, said.

Mamata Banerjee The Telegraph picture