Among Kolkata stampede victims, father-son duo from Bihar, two friends inseparable since childhood

The Kolkata Durga Puja pandal stampede that resulted in at least 19 deaths and 25 injuries may have damaged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), despite Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari ordering an investigation and arrests, which raised questions about accountability under his recent administration. Many BJP leaders and ministers in West Bengal are linked to community puja committees, with one BJP MLA saying that despite repeated warnings, Vijay Ojha, their Jorasanko MLA, became chairman of the Chore Bagan Sarbojanin Durgatsav Samity in July, even though the routes to the pandal were reportedly too narrow for safety standards.

Ojha claimed he was unaware of this issue. The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) criticized the BJP government, posting a purported resignation letter from Jayanta Banerjee, the general secretary of the old committee, stating that he and seven others were stepping down. However, the authenticity of the letter could not be independently verified.

BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya publicly refused an invitation to be the president of the College Square Durga Puja Committee, days before Ojha took over. He publicly stated that MLAs, ministers, and political leaders should not take responsibility for multiple puja committees, emphasizing that Durga Puja is for the people, not political parties.

The BJP defended its leaders, arguing that many TMC MLAs and ministers have historically been involved in community Durga Pujas.