The BJP-TMC turf war in Bengal has intensified this festive season, with the two parties leaving no stone unturned to outsmart each other in controlling the city's big-ticket Durga pujas and reach out to as many people as possible during the five-day gala.
The saffron party has decided to set up more than 10,000 stalls outside puja pandals to display books on its ideologies and educate masses on the contentious issues of National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill.
Buoyed by its stupendous performance in the Lok Sabha polls, it is now at the forefront in challenging the decade- long hegemony of the Trinamool Congress in Bengal's annual extravaganza often compared to the Rio De Janerio
carnival.
The five-day fest in Bengal is no longer just about art, culture and celebrations, as parties race to stake claim over puja committees - considered a key factor in ensuring victory in local body elections.
In the last decade, several top ministers and leaders of the ruling TMC have been seen patronising the major puja pandals across the state.
The BJP now is taking the same route to push its own agenda, albeit with moderate success.
According to sources, the party had targeted 14,000 out of 28,000 puja committees in the state, but managed to get hold of only 6000, mostly in semi-urban areas.
The Bharatiya Janata Party leaders have faced stiff resistance from the TMC, which continues to have an iron fist control over these puja committees.
“The TMC doesn't allow leaders of any other political parties to be part of the puja committees. The reason is both political and financial. But still we have managed to take part in several pujas as locals are keen on having BJP leaders in the committees,” state BJP leader Pratap Banerjee told PTI.