Prime Minister Modi is all set to address the people of West Bengal today, on the occasion of Durga Puja celebrations. Prime Minister’s message would be reportedly live streamed on giant screens in atleast 10 Durga Puja pandals across the state.
The Prime Minister had tweeted on Wednesday, “Sisters and brothers of West Bengal, tomorrow, on the auspicious day of Maa Durga Pujo’s Mahashashti, I would join the Divine celebrations via video conferencing and shall also be extending my greetings to everyone. Do join the programme live!”
This symbolic gesture on the part of the Prime Minister is crucial as it breaks the monopoly of Mamta Banerji and her party TMC over Durga Puja celebrations.
It is generally Mamta Banerjee who addresses the people of West Bengal on the occasion of Durga Puja. And now, BJP is breaking that tradition as this is the 1st time perhaps that Prime Minister Modi will be officially addressing the people of West Bengal on the occasion of Durga Puja.
According to experts, this is also a part of BJP’s strategy for the crucial assembly polls in West Bengal that kickstart next year.
After the Durga Puja, Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to visit south Bengal where the ruling TMC still holds ground.
In the last Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had won 18 seats while the TMC got 22 seats.
Ahead of the festive season, Prime Minister Modi had delivered a nationwide address on Tuesday, wherein he had reiterated the need for following the social distancing; wearing masks and washing hands protocol even during the festive season. Warning people that the battle of corona is still on, he had cautioned them against letting themselves go and behaving carelessly during the festive season.