Kolkata: The fate of this year’s Bagbazar Sarbojanin Durga Puja, Kolkata’s oldest community Durga Puja in its 108th year, will be decided by Calcutta High Court after Sunday’s election to key managing committee posts ended in a tie.
Voting for the posts of general secretary and four managing committee members remained inconclusive, with both sides securing 33 votes each. The high court had earlier appointed two observers for the election.
The election also led to a complaint of assault and intimidation being lodged at Shyampukur Police Station by a woman resident of Bosepara Lane. She alleged that she was heckled, abused and physically assaulted for voting against a particular group. Sukumar Mondal, named in the complaint, is reportedly aligned with former ward 7 councillor Bapi Ghosh, who has been trying to take control of the organising committee since last year.
Of the 77 eligible voters, 66 cast their ballots. Eleven members, including several prominent figures, did not vote.
Goutam Neogi, who is tied for the general secretary’s post, said committee president Samar Kumar Pal was not allowed to exercise a casting vote, which he claimed was permitted under the bylaws in the event of a stalemate.
“The observers did not allow the casting vote after an objection from one of the parties. We are now awaiting the court’s decision,” Neogi said. HC had appointed the observers following a plea from the rival camp.
The delay has caused tension and anxiety in the locality, with planning and execution of one of Kolkata’s most popular Durga Pujas yet to begin in full swing. The puja draws lakhs of devotees every year despite retaining its traditional format and refusing to adopt theme-based presentations. For many Kolkatans, Bagbazar remains a must-visit for its traditional ekchala-style idol of Goddess Durga.
The puja began in 1919 at 55 Bagbazar Street as Nebubagan Barowari Durga Puja. It later moved across several locations, including Pashupati Bose Lane and Bagbazar Kali temple, before settling at its permanent grounds.
Social worker Nagendra Nath Ghoshal helped formalise the organising committee and named it Bagbazar Sarbojanin Durgotsav.
In 1930, Calcutta Municipal Corporation alderman Durgacharan Bandyopadhyay became president and introduced a Swadeshi exhibition to promote Indian-made goods. Freedom fighters, including Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who served as president in 1938-39, and Chittaranjan Das used the venue to mobilise support and provide shelter to underground revolutionaries.
Members of the committee seeking re-election said they were opposed to a minister or councillor becoming the face of the puja. A panel backed by former minister Shashi Panja had lost the 2022 election. Ghosh, then councillor, had allegedly tried to take control of the puja last year but failed.