Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s West Bengal itinerary features a devotional highlight Wednesday: participation in ISKCON Mayapur’s marquee event honoring Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati’s 152nd birth anniversary. The temple in Nadia district hosts a packed day of rituals, with Shah delivering the keynote sans political overtones.
Per BJP state insiders, the focus remains spiritual. ‘Election season or not, this is about faith,’ shared a committee source. The Gaudiya Math pioneer’s legacy anchors the festivities, ensuring Shah’s address aligns with temple traditions over party agendas.
Travel plans: 2 PM airport arrival in Kolkata, immediate chopper to Mayapur alongside Suvendu Adhikari and BJP peers. Golf cart post-2:25 PM landing transports him to the complex for Prabhupada statue veneration, then successive pujas – Narsingh, Panchayatan, Ashtasakhi.
Main event: 3 PM stage entry, 3:20 PM speech. Subtlety reigns, yet speculation swirls on implied signals. ‘All ears will be tuned for nuances,’ the source added.
Strategically timed before polls, the visit weaves BJP into Bengal’s devotional fabric, leveraging ISKCON’s vast influence. Mayapur, birthplace of global Krishna movement, amplifies outreach to millions. This fusion of sanctity and visibility exemplifies modern Indian politics, where temple ties can tip electoral scales.
As rituals unfold, Shah’s presence reaffirms national leaders’ engagement with grassroots spirituality, fostering unity in diversity while eyeing Bengal’s fiercely contested assembly seats.