Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to visit West Bengal a week before Durga Puja in September, just months before the next year’s assembly elections. Shah, who was last in Kolkata in June, is expected to inaugurate several Durga Pujas in Kolkata and Salt Lake the day after Mahalaya.
According to political observers, the visit is not merely festive in nature but a strategic move by the Bharatiya Janata Party to connect with Bengali voters ahead of the polls. With the party facing internal challenges in the state and criticism over alleged attacks on Bengalis in other states, the BJP is reportedly looking to use Durga Puja — the biggest festival of Bengalis — as a cultural outreach platform.
Durga Puja has long evolved into a political battleground. Both the ruling TMC and its principal rival, the BJP, are keen to tap into Bengali cultural and religious sentiments. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has consistently accused the BJP of targeting Bengali-speaking migrant workers under the pretext of action against Bangladeshi infiltrators. “Her approach is carefully crafted to consolidate support among Bengali-speaking voters,” said a Trinamool Congress leader.
Also read: ₹1.10 lakh for every Durga Puja club: Mamata’s pre-poll pitch
In response, the BJP is attempting to counter this narrative by embracing Bengal’s cultural icons. The party recently performed the Khuti Puja (pillar worship) for the ‘West Bengal Culture Forum’ puja at the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC) in Salt Lake, where Amit Shah is scheduled to inaugurate the festivities. He will also inaugurate several pandals across North Kolkata. Last year, BJP national president JP Nadda inaugurated pujas in the city, but this time Shah himself has taken charge, underlining the importance of the outreach.
In his recent speeches, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, too, has sought to strike a cultural chord with Bengal, invoking the names of Maa Durga and Maa Kali. Political analysts argue this is a deliberate attempt to make the BJP appear more aligned with Bengal’s cultural and religious ethos.
However, despite the BJP’s push, the reality on the ground remains challenging. Most of Kolkata’s big puja committees are dominated by the ruling TMC leaders and over the years, Bengal Chief Minister has successfully elevated Bengal’s Durga Puja to an international stage, further consolidating her party’s cultural presence. Whether the BJP can dent this stronghold remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to arrive in Kolkata on August 22, marking his third visit to Bengal this year. During the visit, he will inaugurate three new metro routes in the city and address a mega public rally at Dum Dum Central Jail Ground.
Follow us
