A controversy has erupted in West Bengal after BJP leader Uday Shankar Bandyopadhyay said that photographs of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari must be displayed at Durga Puja pandals, or action would be taken against the organisers. At a recent meeting with Puja committees in Sainthia, the Birbhum district president of the BJP said: “I am telling every club that receives or will receive government grants: they must display an honourable photograph of the Chief Minister. It is mandatory. If anyone thinks they will take a government grant but will not display the Chief Minister’s photograph, we will be compelled to take action against them.”

Later, while explaining his remarks, he said:
“In the past, BJP leaders and workers were not allowed to put up stalls at Durga Puja pandals. Those TMC leaders who were at the helm of the Puja committees and spread such rumours have now started pretending to be loyal Trinamool supporters. They were the ones who insulted the Chief Minister. So my clear statement is that those leaders must put up the Chief Minister’s photograph. We will not accept them pretending to be loyal Trinamool supporters.”

The BJP leader’s remarks have triggered a political controversy.

Senior BJP Leader Dilip Ghosh Disagrees

Senior BJP leader and minister Dilip Ghosh has expressed disagreement with the statement. He said: “Has any government directive been issued requiring the Chief Minister’s photograph to be displayed? I do not think our government would do such a thing. Earlier, there was a condition that if a photograph of Mamata Banerjee was not displayed, the Puja committees would not receive the grant. There were also allegations that leaders took ‘cut money’ from that money. Our government has not issued any such directive that the Chief Minister’s photograph must be displayed. People should simply perform Durga Puja properly.”

What Happened During the TMC Government?

The practice of providing government grants to Durga Puja committees in West Bengal was introduced during Mamata Banerjee’s tenure as Chief Minister. After the Trinamool Congress came to power, the Chief Minister began providing financial grants to Puja committees.

However, the grants themselves became a subject of political controversy. There were allegations that government grants were given preferentially to Puja committees headed by people close to the Trinamool Congress. Some Puja committees were even reported to have changed their leadership in order to qualify for government funding. The Trinamool Congress was also accused of directly interfering in the functioning of Puja committees. Although there was no official announcement making it compulsory, photographs of then Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee were displayed at many Puja pandals.

Durga Puja Just Weeks Away

Preparations for Durga Puja are already well underway across West Bengal, with people eagerly waiting for the festival. Work on Puja pandals is in full swing, idols are being made at Kumartuli, and the festive shopping season is already underway. But this year’s Durga Puja is expected to be somewhat different from previous years. In earlier years, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee would often begin inaugurating Puja pandals before Mahalaya, followed by the Durga Puja Carnival after the festival.

The BJP, however, is placing greater emphasis on traditional rituals and the religious aspects of the festival.

With this being the BJP’s first Durga Puja after coming to power, people are now waiting to see what the festival will look like under the new government.

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