BJP in Bengal Split Between Ayodhya Celebrations and Countering Mamata's Rally
Adhikari Leads Rally, Others Focus on Local Celebrations as Central Leadership Guides Strategy
On a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi oversaw the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the leader of the opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, held a rally in the city, and the majority of his party colleagues went to celebrate in their respective constituencies, leaving the BJP state headquarters looking deserted.
"We wanted to be part of today's (Monday) huge day for the people of the country," Adhikari said as he led the morning procession from Baitakunth Mandir in north Calcutta to Ram Mandir on Chittaranjan Avenue. Check out the population. They arrived on their own.
The Nandigram MLA eventually withdrew his political remarks, despite having earlier claimed that the demonstration was a reaction to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Sanhati Yatra.
Following that, Adhikari attended the screening of the Ram temple's consecration ceremony in Lebulta Park in downtown Kolkata. BJP councillor Sajal Ghosh was the organizer of the event.
Adhikari took part in a Maha Arati event at Ramkrishnapur Ghat in Howrah later that evening.
Large cutouts of Lord Ram and religious flags were present during Adhikari's event.
According to party insiders, the central leadership ordered well-known figures like Sukanta Majumdar, Dilip Ghosh, Locket Chatterjee, and Agnimitra Paul to participate in many events in their districts.
Adhikari remained silent on politics, while other state BJP leaders expressed strong opposition to Mamata's Sanhati Yatra.
Former state unit chairman and Midnapore BJP MP Dilip Ghosh declared: "Trinamul's Sanhati rally is an attempt to mislead the people."
"The Trinamul administration in Bengal is trying to stop people from participating in the festivities via the all-faith rally organized by the state's governing party, as the country celebrates the opening of the Ram temple. We vehemently denounce such endeavors," the MP said, having just participated in a Ram Sankirtan event in his district on Monday.
On Monday, Balurghat MP and head of the Bengal BJP Sukanta Majumdar participated in rallies around his constituency. On Monday night, he asked people to light diyas at home.
Majumdar stated, "Those who are doing this will get their just returns," in reference to Mamata's Sanhati Yatra. Everyone and everything is being watched.
An experienced member of the BJP commended the job done by workers and party officials in Bengal to inform the people of the state's whole population about the opening of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
Huge TV screens had been placed thoughtfully all throughout the state so that everyone could observe the important occasion. Party members distributed diyas and yellow rice to members of the public. The senior BJP official said, "But it wasn't only our people; our party leaders were actively engaged in making this occasion historic.
