12 pandals in 48 hours: Mamata on puja inauguration spree

As part of her public relations campaign,the chief minister inaugurated at least 12 puja pandals in Kolkata in the past 48 hours.

On Monday,she inaugurated pandals of three puja committees in the city. Today,she inaugurated nine more. Officials at the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) do not know how many pujas she would inaugurate tomorrow.

“We have received almost a hundred invitations from well-known puja committees in Kolkata who want their pandals be inaugurated by the chief minister. We have prepared a list of the invitations and submitted it to her. She will decide which pujas she will inaugurate,” a senior CMO official close to Mamata told The Indian Express. Invitations are still coming to Writers’ Buildings,he added.

While leaving Writers’ today,Mamata said she was going to unveil nine pujas today. “This is the official figure. It may go up,” she added.

Usually,Mamata remains busy with her work till late evening and leaves Writers’ after 7 pm. Today she left around 3.45 pm and started the inauguration spree from 4.30 pm.

On Monday,Mamata unveiled the puja pandals of Babubagan,Pochanobboypally and Naktala Udayan Sangha — all in south Kolkata. Today her visits included pandals in Ballygunge and Kidderpore. The president of the Naktala Udayan Sangha puja is industry minister Partha Chatterjee.

Mamata also inaugurated Chetla Agrani puja,whose chief patron is urban development minister Firhad Hakim. She went to Adi Ballygunge,Bosepukur,Behala Notun Dal,66 Pally and Sharada Pally.

“Our chief minister loves to mingle with the people. She does not want to miss any chance to interact with them. Inauguration of pujas is a part of her public relations campaign,” a senior minister in the Mamata cabinet said.

“We,too,have been instructed by the chief minister not to go out of our constituencies during the days of pujas. We will also meet as many people as possible,” the minister added.

Mamata,however,is also learnt to have asked some ministers to come to Writers’ during the puja if the situation demands.

A CMO official said Mamata has no official engagement tomorrow. “She will come to Writers’ in the morning and later inaugurate pandals of some puja committees,” said a CMO official.