A month to Durga Puja and bridges - from Garia to Ruby - are new colours of red and shades of saffron-yellow, pink and orange. For the first time, Kolkata's flyovers and bridges are being painted in BJP's choice of colours, a stark departure from previous Trinamool Congress government's preference for blue and white.
The new BJP government in West Bengal, which took charge in May, has started making its presence felt in capital. The Public Works Department is painting all major flyovers - from AJC Bose to Maa - in colours of BJP flag. From Ultadanga to Ruby, pillars are now saffron-orange, yellow, pink and red. This represents road of love and brotherhood, they said, after they brought in to PWD and brought in saffron for first time in state's history.
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Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Department said the artwork beneath the bridges has been done by artists from across country. "Prime permits, we will allow artists to paint Durga Puja themes," said senior PWD official.
TMC and Left see saffronisation. "They are doing this to saffronise Bengal's culture. They want to make Durga Puja a BJP event. However, Opposition and Left said Durga Puja is secular festival, it belongs to all. This move is attempt to impose their ideology," said TMC spokesperson.
BJP defends. "We are bringing back true colours of Bengal. Blue-white was TMC's political colour. We are using auspicious colours - red, yellow, orange - which are colours of Durga. It is first Durga Puja, it is love and brotherhood," said senior BJP leader.
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The row is not about paint. It is about ownership of Bengal's cultural economy. Durga Puja generates Rs 50,000 crore economy, UNESCO intangible heritage tag, and massive political capital. Mamata Banerjee made it state-sponsored carnival with Rs 70,000 grant to each puja. Now BJP wants its stamp.
Whether flyover colour changes votes is doubtful. But visual politics matters. When you drive from airport to city and see saffron instead of blue-white, you know sarkar has changed. That is BJP's message.
Tags: #Kolkata #DurgaPuja #BJP #TMC #WestBengal #Saffronisation #KolkataFlyovers #PWD #BengalPolitics