TMC and BJP at loggerheads during festive season in West Bengal

The BJP-TMC turf war has begun in Bengal with the onset of the festive season. The two parties are leaving no stone unturned to outwit each other in controlling the Durga Puja celebrations. The aim of both parties is to reach out to as many people as possible during the five-day extravaganza in the State. The BJP has decided to set up more than 10,000 stalls outside the puja pandals to display an array of books and ideologies that is going to educate the people of Bengal on issues of National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill. After the path-breaking performance in the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP is now at the forefront to challenge the long reign of Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal.

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TMC-BJP turf war 

The five day festival in Bengal, which is often compared to the Rio De Janeiro carnival, is a testament to Bengal and its heritage as the city comes together in the spirit of celebrations. However, as both the parties compete towards staking a claim over the puja committees, the festival is now not only limited to art and culture but has been extended to politics as well. The puja committees, which are considered to be a key factor in ensuring a win over the local body elections, are of utmost importance in the State. As a consequence, both parties are struggling hard to stake a claim in the local body. 

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Politicians speak 

Speaking of the ongoing turf war between both the parties, TMC General Secretary Partha Chatterjee stated that the BJP was trying to utilise their money into making inroads. However, Chatterjee stated that it failed to do so. Furthermore, he asserted that Mamata Banerjee is far ahead of any politician when it comes to popularity amongst the masses in Bengal. Sayantan Basu, the BJP General Secretary in the State, on the other hand, stated that the party has been trying to have stalls outside the pandals to educate the people about the party's ideology. 

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'We will also have book stalls outside puja pandals, with locals leaders and workers manning it. We would propagate our ideology and educate the masses on NRC and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill,' Basu said in a statement.

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(With PTI inputs)