Bengal BJP banks on Puja to reach out

Buoyed by its success in organising Ram Navami events, West Bengal BJP is all set to organise Saraswati Puja across the state, as per the instructions of party president Amit Shah, senior party leaders said.

“Celebration of Saraswati Puja would be one of the best ways to build a connect with the people in general. Our highest leadership has instructed us to hold the event across Bengal,” a senior state BJP leader said.

He said organising the puja had been the brainchild of former TMC Rajya Sabha member Mukul Roy, who defected to the BJP last year.

“The puja has been one of the strongest tools of TMC to develop a connect with the common people, and BJP is trying to exploit that area as well,” he added.

State BJP president Dilip Ghosh confirmed the celebrations. “Besides being a religious festival, Saraswati Puja is part of the culture of this state, and so, this year we have decided that it will be celebrated in a big way by us,” Ghosh said.

He said instructions have been sent out to party leaders right down to the grassroots level that they should collaborate with clubs and local organisers of Saraswati Puja.

Party national secretary Rahul Sinha said, “It is occasions like these that we need to reach out to the people. It will help in increasing our popularity.”

The move comes as the state is headed for panchayat elections this year, and the Lok Sabha elections next year.