Now Reading: BJP worker killed in Baruipur over Durga Puja committee control
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BJP worker killed in Baruipur over Durga Puja committee control
A BJP worker was killed in Baruipur, West Bengal, on Sunday night after a clash between rival party factions over control of a Durga Puja committee. Bapi Pramanik, 45, died from injuries…
A BJP worker was killed in Baruipur, West Bengal, on Sunday night after a clash between rival party factions over control of a Durga Puja committee. Bapi Pramanik, 45, died from injuries sustained in the violence. Four people have been arrested, including suspended BJP leader Sujan Mondal.
The incident highlights growing factionalism within the BJP in Bengal, with similar disputes reported in Entally, Deshapriya Park and Baranagar. In Kolkata's Entally, rival groups clashed over organising a puja at Padmapukur Park, leading to an FIR. State BJP president Shamik Bhattacharya had previously warned leaders against taking charge of puja committees, but the turf war continues.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Durga Puja committees in Bengal are not just religious bodies, they control significant local cash flows from donations, sponsorship and government grants. The Trinamool Congress long used this network for political outreach, and the BJP's attempt to replicate that model has triggered internal turf wars. With the 2026 assembly election approaching, control of these committees offers both visibility and voter access. The party's central leadership will now have to decide whether to enforce Bhattacharya's directive or allow local satraps to settle scores, a choice that will shape its Bengal campaign.
The Calcutta High Court could see petitions if disputes escalate, but for now, police stations are the frontline. The next signal is whether the state government, which has distributed Rs 30 crore in puja grants in the past, uses the violence to deny funds to BJP-linked committees.
Source: thefederal.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
