Calcutta, Oct. 19: A birthday bash for former state BJP president Rahul Sinha at an upscale address tomorrow evening has brought the power struggle in the party out in the open and prompted a section to wonder if central leaders were keeping tabs on developments in Bengal.

This is not the first time Sinha's birthday - he turns 53 tomorrow - is being organised with fanfare, but party insiders think this time is characteristically different.

"Rahulda lost the state presidentship to Dilip Ghosh and the testy ties between them is well-known. Roopa Ganguly has been made a Rajya Sabha MP and Rahulda was against it. His supporters are holding a big celebration only to send across a message that he still remains the tallest leader of the party in the state," said a state leader known for his proximity to Sinha.

The organisers have invited not only prominent party leaders in east and Northeast India but chief minister Mamata Banerjee, CPM state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra and state Congress chief Adhir Chowdhury. The organisers have also invited CAB president Sourav Ganguly.

"So far, not one invitee has said no.... Who all will actually show up, I cannot say at the moment," said BJP state secretary Ritesh Tiwari, a principal organiser.

Trinamul sources said Mamata had told minister Firhad hakim to attend the bash.

However, a state functionary pointed out that the party had not "had any major political activity in the last five months.... Now, the birthdays of leaders are being celebrated for political purposes. What are our central leaders doing? Do they care about what's happening in Bengal?"

"We are increasing in strength, but that's not because of the state unit. We are gaining because people are unhappy with Trinamul and they see a hope in the BJP, which is the party in power at the Centre," said a state committee member. "But if state leaders keep doing such silly things, we will lose this edge," he said.