TMC’s successful outreach to women voters shines anew with Durga Puja

Party’s appeal among women set to grow with support for women-only community Pujas in West Bengal’s biggest cultural carnival

“Since Didi has announced it herself, we will definitely receive the money,” said Deepali Das, one of the key organisers of the community Durga Puja at the Bakpara Sporting Club in the economically backward Duttabad area of the Biddhanagar Municipal Corporation. Ms. Das is honest enough to admit that before the organisers decided on an all-woman Durga Puja, women only had a role in rituals. Now, Ms. Das and other women are waiting for ₹50,000 from the authorities to begin their preparations.

A few kilometres north, president of the Arjunpur Taltala Amra Sobai club, Masumi Naskar, is happy that artist Bhabatosh Sutar will design their Puja pandal this time. “Of course having the Durga Puja organised entirely by women is very encouraging,” she added.