Kolkata: Bangaliyana took centre stage on the very first day of the new BJP govt in Bengal as CM Suvendu Adhikari sought to project his administration as a custodian of Bengal’s cultural identity and heritage, marking a sharp shift in the party’s political messaging in the state.Hours after taking oath at Brigade Parade Ground on Saturday, Adhikari visited the Bhowanipore residence of Syama Prasad Mookerjee and spoke extensively about reviving Bengal’s cultural legacy. “We will continue our efforts to protect the culture of Bengal. We will work together towards restoring heritage sites and the homes of various eminent personalities, including that of Syama Prasad and Netaji, as well as those of Satyajit Ray and Uttam Kumar. We will work collectively to revive the culture and identity of Bengal and Bengalis,” Adhikari said.Earlier in the day, the CM began his first official engagements with a visit to Jorasanko Thakurbari to pay tribute to Rabindranath Tagore on his 166th birth anniversary. There too, the emphasis remained on Bengali identity and cultural pride. “By paying our respects to Gurudev, we assumed office today. Bengal and Bengali culture must be guided by Gurudev’s ideals,” Adhikari said.The symbolism extended to Brigade itself, where the oath-taking ceremony unfolded against a backdrop steeped in Bengali imagery. The massive stage featured collages of Dakshineswar Kali Temple alongside motifs inspired by Durga Puja.PM Narendra Modi later shared images of the backdrop on X, calling May 9, 2026, “a historic day” that ushered in “a new chapter of destiny, hope, dignity and good governance” for Bengal.There were multiple installations of Bengali icons like Michael Madhusudan Dutta, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Raja Rammohan Roy and Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay adorning the ground. The playlist comprised Rabindrasangeet, baul and folk songs of Bengal, and the menu too was strictly Bengali — jhalmuri, rosogolla and sandesh.The cultural messaging reflected a strategy that BJP netas believe helped the party finally shed the “outsider” perception that damaged it in 2021. Over the past year, Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah repeatedly leaned into hyperlocal themes, invoking Bengal’s religious traditions, literary icons and food culture during an intense campaign across the state.The tonal shift became visible last year when Modi launched his Bengal campaign with repeated invocations of “Jai Ma Kali” and “Jai Ma Durga”. In subsequent rallies, he spoke of Bengali asmita, shared a Shyama Sangeet by Ramprasad, visited temples and even stopped at a roadside jhalmuri stall in Jhargram. Fish, too, became a political symbol during campaigns as BJP netas countered allegations that the party opposed Bengal’s food habits. Images of senior BJP functionaries eating fish circulated widely.
