Opposition slams CM’s Mahakal temple, stadium announcements

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s twin announcements — the construction of a Mahakal Temple and an international cricket stadium in Siliguri — have sparked sharp political reactions, with opposition parties calling them “poll-time gimmicks” ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

While BJP and CPI-M leaders questioned the timing and intent behind the projects, former minister and ex-Siliguri MLA Asok Bhattacharya said that though Siliguri genuinely deserves a cricket stadium, “religion should not mix with governance.”

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Addressing reporters, CPI-M district secretary Saman Pathak remarked that both announcements were “nothing but election stunts made six months before the polls.” He also criticised the chief minister for “ignoring the plight of landslide and flood-affected people in north Bengal” while prioritising temple construction.

BJP MLA from Siliguri Sankar Ghosh, meanwhile, accused the chief minister of deceiving the public. “I thank her for the cricket stadium announcement, but her promises amount to cheating. Several of her earlier projects remain incomplete,” Dr. Ghosh said, questioning why cricketer Wriddhiman Saha had to leave Bengal to play for Tripura.

Former Siliguri Mayor Asok Bhattacharya, recalling his own efforts to build a stadium in the region, said the people of Siliguri have long dreamt of such a facility. “This is an emotional issue for us. When I was a minister, I had even shown the Chandmoni Tea Estate land to Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, and Irfan Pathan. Later, we explored Kawakhali as an option, and SAI was approached. If it finally happens, I will be happy — it doesn’t matter whose name it bears — Siliguri truly needs a cricket stadium,” he said.

However, Bhattacharya took strong exception to the government’s decision to build a temple using state machinery. “The Constitution clearly states that the state has no religion. Even the BJP, while promoting the Ram temple, did not do so through official state intervention. Yet, the chief minister has initiated the Mahakal Temple project with the chief secretary as chairman of the trust — this is unprecedented in West Bengal’s political history,” he said.

He added that the 24-acre land earmarked for the temple was originally meant for a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and IT hub to generate employment, with Rs 6 crore already invested. “After Goutam Deb became SJDA chairperson, that plan was scrapped. For her, politics and religion — especially Hindu religion — matter more than sports or jobs, and only for votes,” Bhattacharya alleged.