PM Modi, HM Shah likely to visit Bengal ahead of Durga Pujas
The Statesman | 26 August 2025
Ahead of Durga Puja, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah are likely to visit West Bengal, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sources said on Sunday.
PM Modi is expected to hold a public meeting in Ranaghat of Nadia district, while Shah is likely to inaugurate two Durga Pujas in Kolkata.
According to party insiders, invitations to inaugurate the Santosh Mitra Square Durga Puja in central Kolkata and Durga Puja at the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC), organised by Paschimbanga Sanskriti Mancha, have been sent to Mr Shah.
BJP leader and president of Santosh Mitra Square Puja Committee, Sajal Ghosh said, “We have sent an invitation to Amit Shah to inaugurate our Puja. We have not received his confirmation yet.”
Nabarun Biswas, assistant secretary of Paschimbanga Sanskriti Mancha, said that invitations has been sent to the HM. “We are hopeful that the confirmation will come and it will be any day between 22-27 September. Our puja will be performed following full Sanatani and Bengali rituals,” said Mr Biswas.
One of the prominent Durga Pujas had created Ram Mandir as its Puja theme in 2023, when HM had visited the Puja.
This year, the Puja committee has unveiled ‘Operation Sindoor’ as its theme for the festival.
Sources said that Shah is likely to visit Kolkata on 22 September, a day after Mahalaya, which marks the first day of Devi Paksha.
Meanwhile, following the success of PM Modi’s recent trip to Bengal, the BJP is trying to organise a public meeting ahead of Durga Puja. Sources in the party said that PM Modi is likely to visit Bengal on 20 September, a day before Mahalaya.
“There are plans that PM Modi is likely to hold another public meeting in Bengal. The meeting will be held at Ranaghat in Nadia district. We are awaiting an official confirmation from the Prime Minister’s Office,” said a senior BJP leader.