I am in Delhi but I feel like I am in Bengal: PM Narendra Modi

- Inaugurated Durga Puja Pandal by video conference

- Prime Minister's master stroke before the 2021 assembly elections

New Delhi on Thursday 22nd October 2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the Durga Puja Pandal in West Bengal by video conference in Delhi on the 6th North. Political observers see his move as a political master stroke.

West Bengal Assembly elections are in 2021. Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had not given permission for some Hindu festivals. But in Bengal the worship of Durga has anero glory. On the other hand, there are assembly elections here next year, so Mamata gave more leeway than expected in Durga Puja.

The Prime Minister, on the other hand, took the opportunity to choose a virtual presence to win the sentiments of the Bengali people. With this, the Prime Minister had indirectly started the election campaign. Last year, there was tension between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the issue of Durga Puja. This time there was a tussle between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP over the issue of Durga Puja. In the year before the elections, both the political parties were rallying on the issue of Durga Puja. Mamata Banerjee herself went to a pandal and worshiped Mataji. So the Prime Minister inaugurated the Durga Puja Pandal by video conference.

For the first time in the history of West Bengal, any political party was organizing Durga Puja. In his inaugural address at the inauguration of the BJP's Durga Puja pandal at Salt Lake, the Prime Minister raised the issue of BJP's women's empowerment and the central government's reversal of the tradition of three divorces from the Muslim community. To win the sentiment of the locals, he also said that I am in Delhi now but I feel like I am with all of you in Bengal. He also said that Durga Puja gives man power.

Arrangements were also made for the Prime Minister's program to be telecast live in all the 294 assembly constituencies in West Bengal.