Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday offered prayers at a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata and said he prayed to Maa Durga for a government capable of building a “Sonar Bangla” (Golden Bengal) to be elected in the 2026 Assembly elections.
“In 2026, we want Bengal to become a safe and prosperous state again,” Shah said while inaugurating a Durga Puja pandal themed ‘Operation Sindoor’. Extending greetings for the festival, he noted that Durga Navratri has gained global recognition, with devotees dedicating themselves to the worship of Shakti for nine days.
Paying homage to social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar on his birth anniversary, Shah lauded his lasting contributions to education, particularly women’s education.
Earlier in the day, Shah also visited the Kalighat Kali Temple to offer prayers. He expressed condolences to the families of over ten people who lost their lives due to heavy rainfall at the start of the Durga Puja festivities. “All BJP workers stand with the families of the victims,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had announced ₹2 lakh ex-gratia and employment support for the next of kin of the deceased.
Following his Kolkata visit, Amit Shah is set to begin a two-day tour of Bihar to boost the BJP’s organisational preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections. His itinerary includes closed-door meetings with party workers in Bettiah, strategy sessions at the BJP’s state office in Patna, and a zonal meeting in Sarayranjan. On September 27, he will address a large gathering of party workers in Forbesganj.
The Bihar BJP has divided the state into five zones for targeted mobilisation, with Shah’s visit aimed at energising cadres and finalising election strategies ahead of the polls.
