Mamata Banerjee has sprung a street party on the protestprimed political parties of Bengal, drawing charges that she is gambling on the festive spirit of Durga Puja to divert attention from alleged scams involving Trinamul Congress leaders.

By announcing the effective launch of Durga Puja-related events from September 1 (although Sashthi falls only on October 1) and more monetary assistance to Puja organisers, the chief minister appears to be aiming to cage two birds with one festival.One, given Bengal’s tradition, all parties usually suspend political activities during the autumn festival as most people slip into the revelry mode.

Two, Mamata has couched her perceived political motive in a shield provided by the Opposition, mainly the BJP, itself. Mamata is doing what the BJP has accused her of not doing: promoting Durga Puja and, in the process, claim full credit for the Unesco recognition of Calcutta’s Durga Puja.The political message, if not excuse, was evident at the outset when Mamata met Puja organisers at Netaji Indoor Stadium on Monday.

The chief minister began her address by firing off a jibe at the polarising campaign by the BJP ahead of last year’s Assembly elections. Leader after leader of the BJP — including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah — had accused Mamata of restricting the celebration of Hindu festivals such as Durga Puja and Saraswati Puja.“Some people make claims such as there is no Durga Puja here, no Saraswati Puja here. Nowhere in the world do Pujas take place the way they are held here,” Mamata said on Monday.

The BJP has long been seeking to milk a notification issued in 2017 by the Bengal government that suspended the immersion of Durga idols on September 30 and October 1 on account of Muharram, observed by Muslims as a day of mourning. The decision, driven by goodwill and an eagerness to minimise potential flashpoints because both the events involve processions, has been amplified by the Rightwing ecosystem as an example of “appeasement”.

The chief minister made it a point to highlight how Puja involved all sections of the society and how the organisers planned for the event through the year as she swatted away the saffron campaign as a propaganda against Bengal.

“For Durga Puja alone, there is roundtheyear, meticulous planning… so that everything is flawless,” said Mamata, shortly before announcing a bunch of assistance for the Puja organisers.

“Our coffers are empty because of funds deprivation (by the Centre)… but still, we always will do our best to stand by you,” she added.If Calcutta and the rest of Bengal decide to have a revenge party after a two-year, Covid induced hiatus, the window of celebrations between Durga Puja and Bhai Phonta will widen to cover eight weeks instead of the usual four or five weeks.

“An opportunity came her way and she grabbed it with both hands. It was a smart, timely move,” said a Trinamul Congress MP of Mamata’s announcements at the Netaji Indoor Stadium.Since the arrest of now-sacked-and-suspended Trinamul heavyweight Partha Chatterjee by the Enforcement Directorate, followed by the CBI’s arrest of Trinamul’s Birbhum leader Anubrata Mondal, the Opposition has been relentless in its derisive criticism of Trinamul and questions over Mamata’s personal probity.

“Now, the BJP and the CPM will have to rethink their plans for September. At least for the first three weeks or so of September, they had plans for substantial political activities,” said a senior Trinamul leader.

“The people dislike meetings, rallies and other disruptive political programmes in the runup to the festivals. The mainstream media shifts focus to more festive things. The people go into revelry mode and are likely to be less attentive to the hyperactivity of the central agencies and its political fallout,” he added.Trinamul leaders are expected to come up with such theories but how September will pan out will also depend on how far the Centre is willing to go in its crackdown and confrontation. The Trinamul leader also sought solace from the dole to the clubs, saying the loyalty of some of the members comes in handy during elections.Sources in the BJP said discussions within had already begun on replanning activities and programmes for the next few weeks. BJP state chief spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said: “She is doing all this as a diversionary tactic to draw eyeballs away from the truth.”

CPM state secretary Mohammad Salim said “autocrats” throughout the ages had subjected the people to inebriation and entertainment and Mamata was no different. “Can you believe that Durga Puja will begin a month earlier this year? This is to shift the focus from the real issues — corruption, unemploy¬ment and price rise,” he said.