Durga Puja in West Bengal has historically served not just as a grand religious and cultural celebration, but also as a crucial platform for political outreach. The presence of political figures at committee events and their participation in inaugurations have long remained an integral part of the state's political landscape. This year, the heightened activity of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party leaders across various pandals, contrasted with the conspicuous absence of several prominent Trinamool Congress faces, has sparked intense political discussions. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and multiple other BJP leaders were seen participating in numerous puja celebrations across different regions. Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and several senior Trinamool leaders maintained a much more restricted presence compared to previous years. This noticeable shift in political faces associated with major puja events is being widely interpreted against the backdrop of the state's evolving power dynamics.
Mamata Banerjee's Restricted Public Schedule and Kalighat Focus
For roughly the past decade and a half, Mamata Banerjee inaugurating various Durga puja pandals in Kolkata has stood out as one of the primary pre-festival political activities in the state. Ahead of Navratri, she routinely participated in the programs of numerous puja committees, and her schedule for inaugurations was exceptionally busy even in 2025. This time around, however, her public engagements appeared notably constrained in comparison to past years. According to available information, Mamata Banerjee restricted her participation to inaugurating just a single puja pandal located in the immediate vicinity of her Kalighat residence. A straightforward comparison with her bustling itinerary from the previous year highlights a stark contrast in her physical presence during the festivities.
Trinamool Leaders Keep Distance Amid Party Rebuilding Challenges
Senior leaders of the Trinamool Congress have maintained long-standing associations with many of Kolkata's biggest puja celebrations. Former ministers Arup Biswas, Sujit Bose, and Firhad Hakim have historically been closely tied to prominent puja committees within their respective constituencies. Their roles and attendance at these events drew considerable attention this year. Facing the uphill task of rebuilding party machinery from the ground up following their defeat in the assembly elections, the presence or absence of Trinamool leaders at public gatherings carries heavy political weight. One of Kolkata's most celebrated community pujas, Naktala Udayan Sangha, has long been associated with former education minister Partha Chatterjee. Having faced severe legal actions connected to the school recruitment scam, Chatterjee stayed completely away from the puja celebrations this time.
Suvendu Adhikari and BJP Leaders Lead Active Pandal Outreach
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari actively participated in numerous Durga puja events throughout the festivities, visiting pandals and taking part in inauguration ceremonies not only in Kolkata but also across other parts of the state. Among these visits, the celebrations organized by Sreebhumi Sporting Club drew particularly high attention. This specific puja has long been closely connected with Suvendu Bose, and the pandal was inaugurated by Mamata Banerjee just last year. This time, the prominent presence of Suvendu Adhikari was widely seen as a striking illustration of the altered political equation following the change in state government. For the BJP, such large-scale cultural events provide an ideal opportunity to expand grassroots contact with local organizations and ordinary citizens.
Broader BJP Leadership Active Across Cultural Celebrations
Several other prominent BJP leaders maintained active participation in various events throughout the duration of the festival. This group included former state party chief Dilip Ghosh, current state president Samik Bhattacharya, Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar, along with party figures Locket Chatterjee and Agnimitra Paul. The active engagement of these leaders provided the party with valuable openings to establish a firm local presence through religious and cultural gatherings. While in opposition, BJP leaders frequently accused the Trinamool Congress of exerting undue political influence over puja committees. Now, with the party holding power, the active participation of its leaders in these same celebrations is being evaluated through a completely new political lens.
Traditional Rituals and Pandals See New Political Faces
At the Ahiritola Sarbojonin Durgotsav in north Kolkata, BJP MLA Purnima Chakraborty took part in the traditional 'Chakshudaan' ritual of painting the eyes of Goddess Durga. In past years, this sacred task was traditionally performed by former Trinamool minister Shashi Panja. Similarly, political changes caught attention at the Md. Ali Park puja in central Kolkata, where BJP government minister Tapas Roy formally inaugurated the pandal. At the same time, questions were raised regarding the subdued role of Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay during the festival events.
Rahul Sinha Claims Unopposed Presence While Indranil Khan Defends Access
Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member Rahul Sinha compared the current political climate to a game where no opposing player stands before the goalpost. He remarked that the party faced virtually no political challenges in establishing its social and cultural footprint during Durga festivities this time. Sinha also accused certain local Trinamool figures of extorting mandatory donations under the guise of organizing pujas. Conversely, BJP leader and state government minister Indranil Khan firmly dismissed allegations of political takeover attempts targeting puja pandals. He asserted that Durga Puja belongs to every ordinary citizen of Bengal and cannot be treated as the exclusive property of any single political party, adding that BJP leaders were simply visiting these events to participate like everyone else.
Trinamool Rebuffs BJP Claims and Alleges Official Pressure
Trinamool Congress spokesperson Krishanu Mitra rejected the notion that the growing visibility of BJP leaders at puja events reflects a natural social shift. He alleged that deliberate pressure is being exerted through the police and state administration to manipulate various puja committees. Mitra claimed that party figures such as Debraj Chakraborty remain jailed due to ongoing political malice. He expressed confidence that Trinamool leaders will soon return to active participation in public and community gatherings across the state.
