Is Mamata Banerjee embracing ‘soft Hindutva’? Political logic of her temple push explained

The TMC sees three benefits in the CM’s pursuit of temple projects, two of them political and one economic. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

A Jagannath temple in the coastal town of Digha in south Bengal, a temple complex in Kolkata dedicated to Goddess Durga, and a Mahakal temple in Siliguri in north Bengal. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, often the target of BJP attacks for “minority appeasement”, is on a temple project spree.

“Many people blame me for appeasement politics, but I am a true secularist,” Banerjee said on Monday after laying the foundation stone of Durga Angan, the 17-acre temple and cultural complex dedicated to Goddess Durga coming up in Kolkata’s New Town area. “I believe in the peaceful coexistence of all religions. You can’t show me a religion whose celebrations I don’t attend. I cover my head when I visit gurdwaras. Why do you complain when I attend rozas (fasting during Ramzan)? Every religion has its cultural practices. How can I disregard any of them? Some people are looting and vandalising. Decisions are being made about who will stay and who will have to leave. I will pray to Goddess Durga to destroy evil.”

This comes at a time when the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government — riding high on the state becoming the second-most popular destination for international tourists and leveraging UNESCO’s recognition of Durga Puja — is planning to promote heritage tourism and develop new circuits built around religious sites such as Gangasagar (the venue of the annual Gangasagar Mela), Tarapith (a Shakti Peeth in Birbhum), and Dakshineswar (a famous Kali temple).

“Firstly, the Opposition, mainly the BJP, has always targeted the party for Muslim appeasement. It is wrong. Earlier, our CM buily Dakshineswar and Kalighat temple skywalks. You will see her at iftar parties, Eid celebrations, and in gurdwaras and churches. She is truly secular. Her initiative for temples further consolidates her image and negates the Muslim appeasement tag. This will benefit us in the upcoming polls. She is taking the wind out of the BJP in Bengal,” said a senior leader close to the CM.

“Secondly, Bengal is the second state when it comes to visits by foreign tourists (2025). Creating such infrastructure will further woo more tourists. These are not only temples but also a place of art and culture. Not only foreign tourists but also domestic tourists are expected to flock here. The Jagannath temple, which was inaugurated on April 30, has already seen 1 crore footfall,” added the TMC functionary.

Another senior TMC leader said that while Muslims were not expected to vote for the BJP, the CM’s temple politics would ensure that the party’s attempts to forge a pan-Hindu base would fall flat. The party will need this broad social coalition of various Hindu caste groups if it has to come to power in the state.

“In previous elections, we have seen women vote for us, thanks to Didi’s Lakshmir Bhandar and other schemes. Muslims vote for us in a consolidated manner. But a section of Hindu votes goes to the BJP. That’s why they got 77 seats (in 2021). This time, we expect more Hindu votes to come our way. Even if a small section of Muslim votes in Malda and Murshidabad districts shifts, it won’t go to the BJP. But we will benefit from not only Hindu votes but the votes of the Matua community and the Rajbangshi communities (part of Hindu votes) because the BJP failed to deliver its promise to them,” said the leader.

The Opposition has targeted Banerjee, with the BJP appearing to be in a bind since it cannot be seen opposing the construction of temples and the Left alleging that it illustrates the failure of the TMC government to deliver on development and jobs.

While Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP, one of the CM’s most trenchant critics, has reiterated RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s recent statement that governments should not be building temples — Bhagwat pointed out that the Ram Temple in Ayodhya was constructed by a Trust — Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday told reporters, “We welcome the construction of temples, but it is too late.”

Accusing the CM of appeasement on this too, Adhikari once claimed in the Assembly that the site of the Durga Angan complex was shifted following the objections of local Muslims, some of whom refused to part with their land for the project.

The Left alleged that the CM was engaging in “soft Hindutva politics” to hide her government’s failures.

“The CM has nothing to show for the state’s development, industrialisation, or jobs. She has failed on those parameters. She wants to hide the fact that the government is deeply entrenched in corruption and scams. That is why she is now banking on temple politics and wants to follow the RSS-BJP path. She is following the BJP’s divisive politics. On one hand, she will go to iftar parties and on the other, she is building temples. How can a government build temples?” CPI(M) Central Committee member Sujan Chakraborty told The Indian Express.