BJP Turns Durga Puja Into Cultural Weapon Ahead of 2026 Bengal Polls

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal has transformed Durga Puja, the state’s grandest cultural festival, into a powerful political and cultural weapon to challenge the Trinamool Congress (TMC) ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. By weaving faith, spectacle, and strategic outreach, the BJP aims to dismantle TMC’s narrative that paints it as an “anti-Bengali” outsider force, while embedding itself deeply into Bengal’s cultural identity.

The saffron party has rolled out an ambitious campaign, dispatching over 100 leaders across 22 states and Union Territories to connect with the Bengali diaspora, reviving its flagship Durga Puja at Salt Lake’s Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC), scaling up bookstalls at pandals, and launching prize-rich contests for organizers. This multi-pronged approach seeks to counter TMC’s dominance over “Bangali asmita” (Bengali pride) and reposition the BJP as a champion of Bengal’s heritage.

“Durga Puja is more than a festival—it’s the heartbeat of Bengali identity,” said a senior BJP leader. “The TMC has tried to brand us as anti-Bengali, but their governance has done more harm to Bengal’s pride. By embracing this festival, we’re showing we belong to Bengal’s soul.”

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In its most expansive festive outreach yet, dubbed Durgapuja Bangali Milan Samaroh, the BJP has sent 107 leaders to states like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, and even the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya is engaging Bengalis in Gujarat, Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar is in Varanasi, and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari is in Tripura. This initiative, aligned with the Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat campaign, targets the Bengali diaspora to amplify the party’s cultural credentials.

“These interactions aren’t just about votes,” Bhattacharya told PTI. “They strengthen our bond with Bengalis everywhere, countering TMC’s false narrative that we’re disconnected from their culture.” While diaspora Bengalis may not vote in Bengal, their influence over families and networks back home is significant, creating a ripple effect as elections approach.

TMC has long accused the BJP of imposing a Hindi-Hindutva agenda and being insensitive to Bengali identity, citing incidents like Bengali workers being labeled “Bangladeshis” in BJP-ruled states. The BJP is now working to flip this script. “We’ve seen Bengalis in Mumbai and Delhi celebrating Durga Puja with joy and freedom,” said state BJP spokesperson Keya Ghosh. “TMC’s claims of harassment are laughable and detached from reality.”

The revival of the BJP’s Durga Puja at EZCC in Salt Lake is a cornerstone of this strategy. First launched in 2020 with a virtual inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the event symbolized the party’s blend of Bengali pride and Hindutva. After scaling down post the 2021 election loss, the puja is back in 2025, organized by the BJP-backed Paschim Banga Sanskriti Mancha. “This is about art, literature, and community bonding, not just politics,” said Rudranil Ghosh, convenor of the BJP’s cultural cell and a key figure in Sanskriti Mancha.

Once a hallmark of Leftist influence, bookstalls at Durga Puja pandals have been embraced by the BJP as a tool for cultural and political messaging. From 8,000 stalls last year, the party aims to set up 36,000 this season—six per mandal, with major pandals hosting up to ten. The curated content spans India’s civilizational heritage, the Ram temple movement, GST reforms, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and issues like infiltration and electoral roll revisions. These stalls aim to spark conversations and challenge TMC’s narrative on the ground.

In Balurghat, Sukanta Majumdar has introduced the Sangsad Sharad Samman and a Shobhayatra Protijogita, offering up to Rs 3 lakh in prizes for immersion tableaux, further incentivizing community participation. High-profile BJP leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, are expected to inaugurate prominent pandals like Santosh Mitra Square, while Adhikari plans to launch around 120 pujas statewide.

TMC leaders have dismissed the BJP’s efforts as “desperate optics” that won’t sway Bengal’s voters. “The BJP can’t buy Bengali pride with pandals and prizes,” a TMC spokesperson said. “Our connection with Durga Puja is organic, built over years of cultural patronage.” Since coming to power in 2011, TMC has controlled nearly 95% of Puja committees, though the BJP has gained some ground recently. TMC’s dominance, backed by senior ministers’ involvement in major pujas, remains a formidable challenge.

The BJP’s Durga Puja strategy is a calculated blend of symbolism and outreach, aiming to weave the party into Bengal’s cultural fabric while countering TMC’s narrative. By engaging the diaspora, reviving flagship pujas, and leveraging bookstalls and contests, the party is betting on a cultural counter-offensive to reshape perceptions ahead of 2026. Whether this ambitious campaign translates into electoral gains remains to be seen, but for now, the BJP is pulling out all stops to claim a stake in Bengal’s most cherished festival.

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