Mamata Banerjee Skips Kali Ghat Bhai Photo Celebration Amid Political Turmoil
Mamata Banerjees absence from the Bhai Photo festival raises eyebrows as political tensions rise in West Bengal.
Kolkata, November 11 (Daily Kiran) : West Bengal’s former Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, did not participate in the traditional ‘Bhai Photo’ or ‘Bhai Dooj’ festival at her residence in Kali Ghat, South Kolkata, on Wednesday. This decision has drawn sharp criticism from Dilip Ghosh, the state’s Minister for Panchayat Affairs and Rural Development.
The official reason for her absence was stated as a symbolic protest against the alleged oppression, harassment, and indiscriminate arrests of Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers under the new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state.
However, Ghosh interpreted her absence differently, suggesting that Banerjee was aware that many of her former close associates, who typically attended the event, would not be present this year. He remarked, “In the past, the ‘Bhai Photo’ day saw a crowd at her residence. They came not just for affection but to stay close to the power she wielded as Chief Minister. Now that she is out of power, the celebration is absent. She knows those who used to visit her last year won’t come this time.”
Ghosh’s comments reflect the current political dynamics within the TMC. Many prominent leaders who frequently visited Banerjee’s home have aligned themselves with a breakaway faction led by the opposition leader, Ritu Brat.
Notable figures like former ministers Firhad Hakim and Arup Biswas, who were significant parts of the ‘Bhai Photo’ ceremony in previous years, are now part of this dissenting group. Additionally, singer-turned-politician Indranil Sen, a familiar face at the event, is currently in judicial custody due to alleged involvement in a UNESCO-related Durga Puja pass fraud case.
Former minister Sujit Bose is also in judicial custody, facing accusations linked to a multimillion-rupee recruitment scam in municipalities. The absence of these leaders, coupled with the political shifts following the assembly election defeat, has completely altered the circle of Banerjee’s close associates.
