After 'Jai Shri Ram', BJP adds 'Jai Maha Kaali' to its war cry in West Bengal; TMC says TRP of Ram down

In the recent past, the state has witnessed some ruckus over the saffron party chanting 'Jai Shri Ram' slogans during the rallies and in front of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's cavalcade.

Banerjee had contention that the BJP was importing north Indian culture to Bengal with slogans like Jai Shri Ram. (Image: PTI)

Kolkata: West Bengal, over the past few months, has witnessed a massive rampant between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). In the recent past, the state has witnessed some ruckus over the saffron party chanting 'Jai Shri Ram' slogans during the rallies and in front of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's cavalcade. However, taking the slogan war one step further, BJP has recently said that Bengal is the land of Maha Kali and the party's slogans in the state will be 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Jai Maha Kali'. Banerjee had contention that the BJP was importing north Indian culture to Bengal with slogans like Jai Shri Ram. However, the saffron party inducted Jai Maha Kaali slogan after TMC supremo said that she would counter BJP's Jai Shri Ram slogan with Jai Hindi and Jai Bangla slogans. Even several TMC leaders asked in public if BJP leaders would chant Jai Maha Kali in praise of one of Bengal’s most popular deities. Defending TMC’s attack, BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, who is in charge of Bengal, said on Tuesday, “Why should we have any problem in chanting Ma Kali’s name? We will say Jai Maha Kali, Jai Bangla, Jai Durga and also Jai Shree Ram.” Accusing the BJP of mixing religion with politics, senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee Tuesday mocked the saffron party's new 'Jai Maha Kali' slogan, saying the saffron camp has replaced its 'Jai Shri Ram' slogan as its TRP is on a downward slide after the elections. "They (BJP) have decided to change the slogan from Jai Shri Ram to Jai Maha Kali as the TRP of Ram is on a downward slide. They are mixing religion with politics," Abhishek, who is also nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said while addressing a protest rally against fuel price hike here. The BJP in Bengal bagged 18 out of 42 Lok Sabha seats. The TMC's tally came down to 22 from 34 it had won in 2014. Speaking on the TMC's performance in the Lok Sabha polls, Abhishek said, "In 2004, we had come down to just one seat and then in 2009, our tally has increased to 19. So, there is nothing to worry about it. We will bounce back and will spread our party across the country." Abhishek just like TMC chief accused the BJP of using "money, muscle, institutions, media and the government" to win the election.  On the issue of TMC party offices allegedly being occupied by the BJP in various parts of the state, he said "It will not take long for us to recapture those party offices." Carrying placards, posters TMC activists shouted slogans against the BJP government at the Center over fuel price hike.