KOLKATA – Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to make a significant stop in West Bengal on Wednesday, landing directly at the heart of spiritual devotion in Mayapur. The senior BJP leader will join a major religious program at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple in Nadia district, addressing a gathering on the occasion.
Sources within the West Bengal BJP unit emphasize the purely devotional nature of the event. Organized to mark the 152nd appearance day of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati, the 19th-century Vaishnava revivalist and founder of the Gaudiya Math, the program unfolds amid a full day of sacred rituals at the iconic ISKCON temple. Party insiders suggest Shah will steer clear of overt political rhetoric, respecting the sanctity of the celebrations, even as assembly elections loom on the horizon.
Shah’s itinerary kicks off with a 2 PM arrival at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. From there, a special helicopter will whisk him to Mayapur, accompanied by opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari and other BJP figures. Touching down around 2:25 PM, he’ll proceed via golf cart to the temple complex.
Upon arrival, the Home Minister will first pay homage at the statue of ISKCON founder AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He is slated to participate in key rituals including Narsingh Puja, Panchayatan Puja, and Ashtasakhi Puja. By 3 PM, he’ll take the main stage, with his address commencing at 3:20 PM.
While no direct political statements are expected, political observers remain glued to every word. ‘Everyone’s eyes and ears will be on what he says – or doesn’t say,’ noted a state BJP committee member. This visit underscores the blend of faith and strategy in Bengal’s charged political landscape, where even spiritual gatherings carry subtle undertones ahead of the polls.
As West Bengal braces for electoral battles, Shah’s presence at Mayapur reinforces the BJP’s outreach to cultural and religious sentiments, potentially signaling broader alliances in the making.