Opposition parties in West Bengal cried foul alleging that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was using funds from the state coffers to promote her projects and party ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
As Kolkata gears up for the third edition of Puja carnival on October 23 on Red Road, opposition parties in West Bengal cried foul alleging that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was using funds from the state coffers to promote her projects and party ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
The entire stretch of Red Road has been done up with blue and white pandals, and a main stage where VVIP guests will be seated. The light decoration comprised mostly the projects of the state government such as 'Sabuj Sathi', 'Khadya Sathi' and 'Juboshree'. Opposition parties have an objection to it.
"The place is filled with pictures of didimoni (Mamata). Under the garb of celebrating Durga puja, she is using people's money to promote her party and projects of the state government. It has been her practice, but this year it has reached unprecedented heights given the election next year," said state BJP president Dilip Ghosh.
Newly-elected state Congress president Somen Mitra said the money which needed to be spent on public welfare was being squandered. "She is spending the money on these festivities which should have been spent in other productive manners. But it is not easy to fool people. They are watching everything and will reply fittingly," Mitra said.
CPI(M) MLA Sujan Chakraborty, talking to DNA said, "Whatever this government is doing is for gaining political dividend and not in the interest of people in general. It will yield short term gains. People will realise that their interest had been sacrificed for achieving the party's goals."
The carnival will take place for more than the usual three hours as the number of participants have gone up to 75 this year against the usual 50. Among the audience will be people from across the globe, businessmen and senior officials. Tableaux of different puja committees would pass the stretch, exhibiting the puja theme before the idol is taken away for immersion.
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