The BJP state headquarters wore a deserted look on Monday as the leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, took out a rally in the city and most of his party colleagues went to their respective constituencies to take part in celebrations on a day Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the consecration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
Leading the rally from Baitakunth Mandir in north Calcutta to Ram Mandir on Chittaranjan Avenue in the morning, Adhikari said: “Today (Monday) is a huge day for the people of the country and we wanted to be part of it. See the number of people. They came spontaneously.”
Although the Nandigram MLA initially said the rally was a response to chief minister Mamata Banerjee's Sanhati Yatra, he later refrained from making political comments.
From there, Adhikari went to see the screening of the consecration ceremony of Ram temple at Lebulta Park central Calcutta, where the event was organised by BJP councillor Sajal Ghosh.
Later in the evening, Adhikari participated in a Maha Arati programme at Ramkrishnapur Ghat in Howrah.
Adhikari's rally was marked by the presence of religious flags and huge cutouts of Lord Ram.
Sources in the party said prominent leaders like Sukanta Majumdar, Dilip Ghosh, Locket Chatterjee and Agnimitra Paul took part in multiple events in their constituencies following a directive by the central leadership.
Although Adhikari refrained from political comments, other state BJP leaders were vocal against Mamata’s Sanhati Yatra.
Midnapore BJP MP Dilip Ghosh, who was the former state unit chief, said: “Trinamul's Sanhati rally is an attempt to mislead the people."
"While the nation celebrates the inauguration of the Ram temple, the Trinamul government in Bengal is attempting to prevent people from joining the celebrations through the all-faith rally organised by the state's ruling party. We strongly condemn such efforts,” added the MP who took part in a Ram Sankirtan programme at his constituency on Monday.
Bengal BJP president and Balurghat MP Sukanta Majumdar took part in rallies throughout his constituency on Monday. He requested people to light diyas at their homes on Monday evening.
On Mamata's Sanhati Yatra, Majumdar said: “Those who are doing this will get their just returns. People are watching everything.”
A BJP veteran praised the efforts of party leaders and workers across Bengal in reaching the inauguration of the Ram temple at Ayodhya to the masses in every corner of the state.
“Giant television screens had been strategically set up across the state to enable people to witness the auspicious moment. Party workers reached out to the public with diyas and yellow rice. However, it wasn't just our workers, our party leaders were all actively involved in making this event momentous,” the senior BJP leader said.
