The Bengal BJP is ready for a showdown with the state administration on Ram Navami day as it plans a procession with arms on that day in the state.

On Tuesday chief minister Mamata Banerjee asked the police to prevent display of arms during Ram Navami procession on 25 March.

BJP’s state president Dilip Ghosh today announced that rallyists will continue with the tradition of carrying arms. “Rallyists will carry arms as they normally do during Ram Navami processions. I will be present there and carry a gada (mace) in one of the rallies. If the general public want to celebrate the traditional festival by carrying arms, who will prevent them,” Mr Ghosh said.

All police stations in West Bengal have been asked to be on alert during the rallies. On Tuesday Miss Banerjee said: “I would ask police inspectors to keep a list of local clubs, NGOs, temples, mosques and churches in the area and keep in touch with them. I say this as part of community development to avert communal tension.”

It has been learnt that the state BJP held a special meeting to prepare its workers to celebrate the Ram Navami in all districts including Kolkata to display the party’s strength before the panchayat election.

However, party workers were instructed not to carry party flags, festoon and placards. BJP senior leaders including BJP’s national secretary Rahul Sinha, BJP’s women wing president Locket Chatterjee, Dilip Ghosh and other leaders were asked to visit districts to lead the Ram Navami procession.

All the state secretaries and vice-presidents will also visit the districts to organise the procession. Mr Ghosh will visit West Midnapore on that day, while Locket is scheduled to visit Rampurhat.

RSS and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) jointly held a meeting to discuss Ram Navami celebration programme. RSS will take out rallies in different areas. It has been learnt that the RSS swayamsevak will not carry any arms but will organise a gala procession.

Mr Ghosh was also booked last year under sections of the Arms Act after party supporters allegedly brandished swords at a Ram Navami rally led by him in Kharagpur Sadar constituency, which Ghosh represents in the Assembly. However, he said he will carry a gada this time, symbolising fight against evil.

“Ram belongs to the entire world. We believe Ram is there in all creations. One who is afraid of Ram, Ram does not belong to him. In Bengal a fight is on between good and evil. It is a test to decide who is on the side of Ram, and who is not,” he said.