kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Kolkata, June 12: The change of government in West Bengal, a major question had been circulating among many people — whether the new BJP-led government would continue the substantial financial assistance for Durga Puja committees that was introduced by the previous Trinamool Congress administration. Putting an end to all speculation and uncertainty, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has now made the government’s stand clear on the matter. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, the Chief Minister stated that the new government would not provide grants indiscriminately to all committees; instead, financial assistance would be given only to those Durga Puja committees that genuinely require government support.

It may be recalled that in 2025, former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had announced a government grant of ₹1.10 lakh for every registered Durga Puja committee in the state. This was an increase of ₹25,000 compared to the ₹85,000 grant provided in 2024. Apart from the direct financial assistance, the previous government had also declared an 80 percent concession on electricity bills and waived all government-related fees, including fire licence charges, for Durga Puja organisers.

The political change in the state in 2026, indications have emerged that this policy may undergo a significant transformation. Moving away from the previous model of providing uniform grants to every committee, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari spoke about a completely new “selection-based policy” regarding the distribution of Durga Puja assistance.

Responding to questions from journalists on the issue, the Chief Minister said that he would soon hold a review meeting with senior officials of the Information and Cultural Affairs Department to take a final decision. He stated that both his personal view and the government’s preliminary policy were very clear: large and financially self-sufficient Durga Puja committees that do not need this relatively small amount of government assistance should not receive money from the state treasury.

Hinting that big-budget puja committees with strong corporate sponsorships could be excluded from the list of beneficiaries, Suvendu Adhikari further said that the government would definitely stand beside those committees that might not be able to organise Durga Puja without such financial support.

The Chief Minister’s remarks, intense discussions have started across political and social circles. According to observers, the new administration aims to move away from the politics of blanket financial distribution and ensure that public funds are used in a more targeted and systematic manner. Attention will now be focused on the upcoming meeting of the Information and Cultural Affairs Department, which will determine which Durga Puja committees will finally be included in the list of grant recipients.