West Bengal Cabinet Approves Mahakal Temple in Siliguri, BJP Objects to Use of Public Funds

The West Bengal Cabinet on Monday approved the construction of a Grand Mahakal Temple Complex and Cultural Center on 17.4 acres of prime land in Siliguri’s Matigara area, fulfilling Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s October announcement to build what she described as the “biggest” Mahakal Temple in the country. The land, previously leased to a private developer, will be transferred to the State Tourism Department via the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority (SJDA) for the project, which also includes a Convention Center along Asian Highway-2 in Dabgram. The cabinet simultaneously cleared additional land allocations for seven industrial parks and rural road development across districts.

The decision follows Banerjee’s recent pattern of high-profile temple inaugurations, including the Jagannath temple at Digha in June 2025, and comes at a time when the Trinamool Congress is seeking to consolidate support in north Bengal—a region where the Bharatiya Janata Party continues to dominate despite statewide setbacks. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP retained six of North Bengal’s eight seats even as its statewide tally fell from 18 to 12. The saffron party has accused Banerjee of using public funds for religious infrastructure to counter its Hindutva narrative ahead of the 2026 assembly polls.

BJP state spokesperson Debjit Sarkar strongly criticized the move, arguing that a secular government cannot utilize exchequer money to construct places of worship. “A secular government cannot spend money from the exchequer to build temples, mosques, or churches. BJP is opposing this,” he said, referencing past instances where Durga Puja and Kali Puja organizers allegedly faced restrictions. Sarkar also revived Banerjee’s controversial March 2025 remark at an Eid gathering where she distanced herself from the “ganda dharam of the BJP,” claiming it reflected deeper Anti-Hindu sentiment.

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The TMC has dismissed the criticism as politically motivated, pointing out that several state governments—including BJP-ruled ones—fund temple renovation and pilgrimage facilitation schemes. Tourism minister Babul Supriyo welcomed the cabinet decision, describing the Mahakal project as a boost for religious tourism in the Dooars region and a tribute to Bengal’s inclusive cultural ethos. Construction timelines and detailed plans are expected to be unveiled after the land transfer is completed within the next few weeks.

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