The Union ministry of culture and tourism will host a three-day cultural extravaganza on the premises of the Cooch Behar palace next week, a move that is being seen as an attempt by the saffron brigade to use the event to attract voters ahead of polls.

Dubbed the Rashtriya Ekta Mahotsav, the cultural fest will be held from February 14 to 16 wherein playback singer Kailash Kher, artistes from other states as well as cultural troupes from the district will perform.

“It will be a gala event where local artistes as well as those from other states will be present. The idea is to celebrate the birth anniversary of Panchanan Barma (the revered Rajbanshi leader and reformer, February 14) and showcase the Cooch Behar palace. The local Rajbanshi culture will be portrayed through the fest,” said Nisith Pramanik, the BJP MP of Cooch Behar.

The Centre’s plan to host the cultural event at a time like this has drawn flak from other political parties, particularly Trinamul.

The ruling party has said that the BJP wanted through this event to counter the Mamata Banerjee government’s yearly cultural event Uttarbanga Utsav.

“Never ever has the BJP government come up with a cultural event,” said north Bengal development minister Rabindranath Ghosh.

“It is clear that as the Assembly elections are drawing near, the BJP is using all possible tools to attract voters, and this time, it is a cultural fest. However, people can understand their intentions,” the minister added.