Overview

• Visiting Kalighat Temple and inaugurating the Operation Sindoor-themed Santosh Mitra Square puja, Shah said he prayed for a new government after the 2026 assembly polls.
• He framed the appeal as a push for a safe, peaceful and prosperous Bengal under the BJP’s 'Sonar Bangla' vision.
• Shah also opened a puja at the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre in Salt Lake, with both events linked to BJP-backed organisers.
• He expressed condolences for those electrocuted after heavy rain in West Bengal, citing ten deaths, with other reports putting the toll at 11.
• TMC leaders countered his pitch, with Abhishek Banerjee alleging the Centre has withheld ₹2 lakh crore from the state and ministers dismissing the BJP’s prospects.