The recent turmoil in West Bengal, following the alleged rape and murder of a young female doctor at RG Kar Hospital, has created widespread protests across the state. The outcry, which intensified with a major protest march in Kolkata on the eve of Mahalaya, has cast its shadow on the upcoming Durga Puja festivities as well. In response to the ongoing unrest, the BJP’s central leadership has made a strategic decision to refrain from participating in Durga Puja inaugurations across West Bengal this year.
Sources within the BJP confirmed that no central leaders or ministers will be involved in inaugurating Durga Puja celebrations in Kolkata or any other part of the state. However, an exception has been made for the party’s West Bengal leaders and ministers. Two central ministers from the state—BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar and Bangaon MP Shantanu Thakur—will be allowed to inaugurate Pujas in their respective constituencies. Additionally, opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari and other BJP MLAs and MPs from West Bengal have been granted permission to participate in local Puja inaugurations.
No Central BJP Leaders to Inaugurate Durga Puja in West Bengal Amid RG Kar Hospital Controversy
Last year, the Durga Puja pandal at Santosh Mitra Square in Kolkata was modeled after the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurating the pandal. This year, however, in the wake of the RG Kar Hospital incident, no such inauguration will take place. There were initial plans for Shah or BJP president JP Nadda to inaugurate the pandal, but those have been canceled. BJP councilor Sajal Ghosh, the organizer of the Santosh Mitra Square Puja, stated, “In protest against the heinous crime of the rape and murder of our doctor sister, we will not hold any inauguration ceremony this year. The pandal will open to visitors from Thursday.”
In East Midnapore’s Kanthi, the Adhikari family, which has close ties to the BJP, oversees the Puja organized by Nandanik Club. Suvendu Adhikari’s brother, MP Soumendu Adhikari, is one of the key organizers. While the Puja committee initially requested a central BJP minister to inaugurate the Puja, Soumendu promptly rejected the idea. Instead, the inauguration will be conducted by Governor CV Ananda Bose on October 6.
Despite the decision to keep central leaders away from Puja inaugurations, some ministers will still visit Kolkata for official duties. On Wednesday, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is scheduled to inaugurate several railway projects in the city but will not participate in any Puja ceremonies. Another Union Minister, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, is expected to visit Kolkata during the Puja for official work but, according to BJP sources, will also refrain from attending any Puja inaugurations.
This move by the BJP central leadership highlights the sensitivity surrounding the RG Kar Hospital incident and reflects the party’s cautious approach as West Bengal remains on edge during the festive season.