The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has registered a resounding victory in the 2026 Assembly elections in Assam, Puducherry and West Bengal. To celebrate the occasion on May 4, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the BJP headquarters in the national capital in a kurta and pleated dhoti with tucked-in style. This has been a unique feature of Bengali Bhadralok dressing on joyous occasions.
The Prime Minister’s white kurta (panjabi in Bangla) and a Tussar silk dhoti with a red hemline is what traditional Bengali men wear. Apart from this, he even sported a scarf around his neck, which is also a nod to the Bengali culture.
This was not the first time as Prime Minister Modi is well known for sending political messages through his attire choices.
The BJP massive gathering at the Delhi office also had a touch of Bengali essence. Conch shells were played, and the Prime Minister also spoke a line in Bangla: “Poriboton hoyegeche (change has happened).”
Another significant decision by the BJP was its announcement that the swearing in of the new government will be on May 9. The day holds special significance and is strategic. Pochishe Boishakh is an emotion. Tagore was born on this day, and it is celebrated as his birthday. The date relates to the man who wrote India’s national anthem.
The saffron party even indulged in serving BJP workers fish lunch at its party offices. At the BJP office on 6, Murlidhar Sen Lane and at party offices in Salt Lake, cadres were seen serving traditional Bengali meals including rice, dal, and katla fish curry.
Also, West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya and other leaders garlanded Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s statue at his ancestral home in Bhawanipore, reinforcing Party’s Bengali outreach.
The symbolism is not without reason. The BJP and its leaders have always been dubbed as ‘anti-Bengali’ and ‘anti-Bengal.’ Right from blaming BJP for atrocities to migrant workers from Bengal in BJP-ruled states to accusing them of barring sale of fish and meat in states ruled by them, the TMC created a narrative.
Way back in May 2019, TMC leaders had accused BJP supporters of vandalising the bust of social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar during a Kolkata road show.