Mohammad Ali Park nets minister Tapas Roy, ‘BJP pujas’ grow in number

Kolkata: Maniktala BJP MLA and minister Tapas Roy has been appointed as the chairman of the Mohammad Ali Park Durga Puja committee, a move, which will expand the BJP’s footprint in the Kolkata’s Durga Puja circuit amid realignment of clubs following the political transition in Bengal.

Surendra Kumar Sharma, the general secretary of the puja committee, said, “Mohammad Ali Park Durga Puja stands as a symbol of creativity, cultural excellence and community spirit. As we prepare to celebrate our 58th year, we are delighted to welcome Tapas Roy as our chairman. His leadership, vision and commitment to public service will further strengthen our efforts to deliver an enriching and memorable Durga Puja. We look forward to creating a celebration that not only showcases artistic brilliance but also reflects the values of inclusivity, harmony and social responsibility that define our puja.”

Many other puja organisers have also started to reach out to the representatives of the new govt in an attempt to bring BJP functionaries into key roles of their committees ahead of this year’s festivities. Roy’s appointment is being viewed as part of this larger shift. . Sajal Ghosh, BJP MLA from Baranagar, already heads a major crowd-puller at Santosh Mitra Square. With Roy now taking charge of one of north Kolkata’s most recognised pujas, the party in office is likely to gain greater visibility in an arena that has long reflected the state’s prevailing political currents.

The shift was apparent last month, when the Mohammad Ali Park Durga Puja committee felicitated the new BJP legislators, including Roy, at an event, attended by puja organisers and residents. For the Mohammad Ali Park committee, which will celebrate its 58th year, Roy’s appointment is also tied to hopes of reviving a puja that was once among biggest attractions in the city. It used to draw massive crowds for its elaborate themes and grand installations. But a cave-in at the park—below the surface is a massive, brick-lined, underground British-era reservoir, seven years ago rendered a large section of the space unsafe, forcing organisers to restrict celebrations to a smaller area and reduce the scale of the festivities. During the renovation work, the puja was shifted out of the park for a couple of weeks.

At last month’s felicitation programme, Roy said, “I have a very old association with the Mohammad Ali Park puja. I was involved with it when I lived in the area and had many friends in the organising committee. Nothing substantial was done earlier, but now that our govt is in office, we will make every effort to ensure the park is repaired so that the puja can be organised as before.”

Durga Puja has evolved into one of Bengal’s largest cultural and economic events, attracting corporate sponsorship, tourism and international attention. The festival received global recognition in 2021 when it was inscribed on Unesco’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. “To organise a puja at such a scale, we need all the help and guidance from the state govt,” said the head of a Durga Puja committee in south Kolkata.