Why Did Abhishek Banerjee Miss the Digha Jagannath Temple Inauguration?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Abhishek Banerjee's absence raises questions of political allegiance.
- The event was initially promoted as the inauguration of a temple.
- Sukanta Majumdar's remarks highlight inter-party conflicts.
- Dilip Ghosh's presence at the event stirred its own controversies.
- Political tensions in West Bengal continue to evolve.
Kolkata, May 2 (NationPress) The president of the West Bengal BJP and Union Minister of State, Sukanta Majumdar, on Friday raised concerns regarding the absence of Abhishek Banerjee, the general secretary of the Trinamool Congress and Lok Sabha member, at the inauguration of the Lord Jagannath temple in Digha, East Midnapore district, on April 30.
In an interview with IANS, Majumdar questioned whether Banerjee's absence stemmed from his opposition to the temple inauguration or if it was due to a rift with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
“Initially, the Chief Minister stated that the event would be the inauguration of the Lord Jagannath temple. However, it later came to light that the event was for the Jagannath Dham Cultural Centre. Many, including myself, were invited to this grand occasion. The key question remains - why was the Trinamool Congress general secretary absent? Is it linked to his disagreements with the Chief Minister?” Majumdar questioned.
He noted that the ongoing debates about the attendance of BJP’s former national vice-president and ex-Lok Sabha member Dilip Ghosh have become “old news” compared to Banerjee’s absence.
“It’s less significant who attended the inauguration; the focus should be on who did not show up,” remarked Majumdar.
Previously, when controversies arose over Ghosh's presence at the event with his newly-wedded wife, Rinku Ghosh, Majumdar had stated that “the decision was a personal one by Dilip Ghosh.”
BJP Lok Sabha member from Bishnupur, Saumitra Khan, strongly criticized Ghosh for attending through a social media post.
Subsequently, Ghosh responded with counter-accusations, asserting that some current BJP leaders, formerly associated with Trinamool Congress, are questioning his commitment to the party. Although he did not specify, Ghosh made it evident that his comments were aimed at Khan and Suvendu Adhikari, the opposition leader in the West Bengal assembly.