Ideology to identity: West Bengal’s religious outreach turns political

Mamata Banerjee’s push for temples has led to speculation that TMC is adopting soft Hindutva, even as a former party leader doubles down on building a ‘Babri Masjid’. Ishita Ayan Dutt reports

- Ishita Ayan Dutt

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee at the foundation-laying event of the proposed Durga Angan in Kolkata on December 29

(PHOTO: PTI)

One temple is done, two are preparing to rise and the foundation for a mosque has been laid. As Assembly elections draw nearer, religion is once again shaping the contours of West Bengal’s political landscape — this time in concrete and stone.

On April 30 last year, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee unveiled the ₹250 crore state-funded Jagannath Temple in Digha amid much fanfare. ‘Modelled on the iconic Jagannath temple in Odisha’s Puri and spread across 20 acres in Purba Medinipur, the complex has set a new benchmark, drawing around 10 million visitors since its inauguration.

Eight months later, on December 29, Banerjee laid the foundation stone of “Durga Angan” — a cultural complex dedicated to the goddess Durga, to be built on 17.28 acres in New Town, Kolkata. The entire project will be implemented under the supervision of the West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation.

Describing it as a “historic” day, Banerjee said: “You may ask what is the necessity of a Durga Angan when Durga Puja is celebrated everywhere in Bengal — it is to preserve the recognition that Unesco has given to Durga Puja for future generations.”

‘The project cost has been estimated at %261.99 crore with funding support from the state government. Banerjee added: “Thousands of people will come here every day.”

Later this month, the CM is expected to break ground for Mahakal temple in Siliguri in north Bengal.

Meanwhile, in the border district of Murshidabad, a parallel religious narrative is unfolding after now-suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Humayun Kabir laid the foundation stone for a mosque modelled on the Babri Masjid on December 6.

The religious pot in Bengal is clearly coming to a simmer.

Splitting the electoral base