The Bengal government has made an elaborate arrangement for chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s Bijoya Sammilani — a traditional get-together after Durga Puja — in Siliguri on Wednesday amid murmurs that crores of rupees are being spent on the programme.

The gathering, where thousands of representatives from clubs which had organised Durga Puja in north Bengal districts will be present, has also been labelled as a government-sponsored event by the parties in opposition.

Sources in the government said the arrangements, which the district magistrate of Darjeeling has asked the state PWD to set up, would require at least Rs 5 crore.

“It is nothing wrong to set up the elaborate infrastructure at a programme which the chief minister will attend. But it does not send a good message as the state’s coffers are not in a good state,” said a senior government official.

“It is surprising that on one hand the chief minister says that her government is facing financial stringency, while on the other hand, such useless expenditures are being incurred,” said Manoj Tigga, the BJP MLA of Madarihat.

Vedabrata Dutta, the spokesperson for Darjeeling (plains) district Trinamul, said: “Mamata Banerjee has always upheld the spirit of cultural and social heritage of Bengal. Those who speak of divisive politics only find negativity in every move of the state government.”