On the occasion of Maha Ashtami, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited a Durga Puja pandal in Delhi’s Chittaranjan Park, a locality renowned for its deep cultural ties with the Bengali community. At the Karli Bari temple, the Prime Minister offered prayers and joined the festive celebrations. Later, he shared his experience on social media, noting that the celebrations at CR Park truly represent the spirit of unity and cultural vibrancy in Indian society. He added that he prayed for the happiness, prosperity, and well-being of all citizens on this auspicious day.
The visit also saw the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who accompanied the Prime Minister during the celebrations. Given the high-profile nature of the visit, the Greater Kailash-II Welfare Association issued an advisory for local residents, requesting them to avoid certain internal roads in CR Park between 3 pm and midnight. These measures were implemented to ensure smooth movement and tight security arrangements throughout the event, considering the scale of the gathering and the Prime Minister’s presence.
Political observers believe that the Prime Minister’s visit to the Durga Puja pandal also carried a strategic undertone, particularly with the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections in sight. BJP leaders view Durga Puja as more than a religious festival, seeing it as an opportunity to connect emotionally and culturally with Bengali voters, both within and outside West Bengal. The party has consistently used such occasions to strengthen its cultural outreach. Last week, Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited Kolkata for Durga Puja, a tradition he has maintained over several years. PM Modi himself had also attended celebrations in Kolkata in 2020, further underlining the significance of the festival in the party’s political narrative.
The BJP’s electoral strategy is particularly focused on migrant Bengalis who reside outside West Bengal but still hold voting rights in the state. Party units across the country are actively engaging with these voters, leveraging cultural bonds and familial networks that remain closely tied to Bengal. Much like its earlier “Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat” initiative in Bihar, the BJP is attempting to create a sense of collective identity and belonging among Bengalis living elsewhere, thereby integrating them into its broader political campaign for Bengal.
To achieve this, the BJP has outlined an extensive cultural and political outreach plan. In metropolitan hubs such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand, where sizeable Bengali communities exist—some numbering over 40,000—the party is organising Durga Puja pandals, cultural programmes, and awareness drives. These events are designed not only to celebrate Bengal’s cultural heritage but also to convey the party’s developmental vision for the state.
According to party strategists, the BJP has identified more than 150 districts outside Bengal with a significant Bengali Hindu population. Special programmes and initiatives have already been launched in these areas, with the dual purpose of showcasing Bengal’s cultural richness and strengthening the BJP’s political presence. The emphasis remains on framing Durga Puja as not just a festival confined to Bengal, but as a national celebration that symbolises unity, devotion, and cultural pride.
