PM, HM likely to skip West Bengal govt’s mega Mahalaya event

Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as Union Home Minister Amit Shah are likely to skip West Bengal government’s mega event organised on the occasion of Mahalaya on October 10.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, which came to power in the State in May 2026, had decided to organise an event at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens cricket stadium on the occasion of Mahalaya. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari had earlier said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was supposed to attend the grand event. This will be the first time in recent public memory that the Eden Gardens was used for a non-sports event. 

However, a few days ago it was learnt that the Prime Minister will not be available for the event. There was buzz in the administrative circles that instead of the Prime Minister, Home Minister Amit Shah may be present at the event. However, with the political situation in Delhi being volatile over the protests seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, neither the Prime Minister nor the Home Minister is likely to make it to event. While the Home Minister is likely to skip the Mahalaya event, he may visit the city during the festival and inaugurate Durga Pujas being organised by key BJP leaders.

Although the absence of the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister has reduced the political attraction of the Mahalaya event, the State government is leaving no stone unturned to make the programme a grand spectacle. West Bengal Governor R.N. Ravi, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and members of his council of Ministers are expected to attend the programme.

 Directions have been issued from the Chief Minister’s office that all the Ministers of the State government have to remain present at the event. Eminent personalities from different walks of life have also been invited, while several prominent artists from the cultural fraternity are expected to participate.

The rendition of “Mahishasura Mardini” will be broadcast over loudspeakers at five ghats along the river Hooghly in Kolkata early in the morning of Mahalaya.

The celebrations will also extend beyond Eden Gardens with a road show being scheduled along the Red Road. 

The BJP leadership had criticised the former Trinamool Congress government for organising Durga Puja carnival on the Red Road, where prominent Durga Pujas idols would go past a stage with the former Chief Minister and other dignitaries being present.

The BJP government in West Bengal has said that unlike the past, Durga Puja celebrations will be held as per rituals and maintaining a proper religious calendar.