Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to visit Kolkata on September 22, 2025, to inaugurate a Durga Puja pandal themed on "Operation Sindoor". The Durga Puja will be organized by BJP leader Sajal Ghosh at Santosh Mitra Square. Shah's visit is planned shortly after Mahalaya, which falls on September 21.
This visit marks Shah's return to Kolkata during the Durga Puja season after his presence in 2023. In 2023, he inaugurated a Durga Puja at Santosh Mitra Square themed on the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Sources suggest that Shah's visits to West Bengal, particularly during major festivals like Durga Puja, are strategically linked to the BJP's campaign efforts for the upcoming 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections. The BJP aims to connect with the culture and emotions of the Bengali people, viewing Durga Puja as a significant opportunity to do so.
The selection of "Operation Sindoor" as the theme for this year's Durga Puja has already generated political discussion. "Operation Sindoor" refers to a recent cross-border military strike conducted by Indian armed forces on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has criticized the theme, alleging it is a politically motivated attempt by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to exploit the symbolism of "sindoor" for electoral advantage. BJP leaders have retorted by accusing Banerjee of echoing Pakistani narratives.
Santosh Mitra Square stands out as one of the few prominent Durga Pujas in West Bengal not controlled by the ruling Trinamool Congress. It is considered the only major puja in the state spearheaded by a BJP leader, matching TMC-led pujas in scale and public turnout. The organizers have declined the annual financial grant offered by the West Bengal government to community puja organizers, with Ghosh arguing it is a misuse of public funds.
In addition to the "Operation Sindoor"-themed puja, Shah is expected to inaugurate two other Durga Puja pandals in Kolkata and one in Salt Lake. The BJP has been increasingly associating itself with Bengal's religious sentiments, as seen in PM Modi's references to Maa Durga and Maa Kali during a rally in Durgapur.
