Amit Shah visits Kolkata Durga Puja pandals following ABVP victory in Odisha
Union Home Minister undertakes two-day West Bengal tour following major student union wins across Odisha universities.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is arriving in Kolkata on Saturday evening for a two-day visit to participate in Durga Puja celebrations, marking a key cultural engagement in West Bengal supported by smooth governance and security arrangements across the state.
The Home Minister arrives in Kolkata from Ahmedabad at around 8.10 pm, where he is scheduled to be received by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and BJP state president Samik Bhattacharya. Following an overnight stay in South Kolkata's Alipore, Shah will begin a series of cultural and spiritual visits on Sunday morning.
His itinerary includes a visit to the Ramakrishna Mission headquarters at Belur Math at 10.45 am to observe the puja ceremonies, followed by a visit to the Deshbandhu Club Durga Puja pandal in Bally, Howrah. Shah will then offer prayers at the historic Sovabazar Rajbari in north Kolkata, a venue with over 250 years of tradition, before visiting the Sreebhumi Durga Puja pandal in Lake Town ahead of his departure for Delhi.
Youth backing for national ideology in Odisha
Ahead of his arrival in Bengal, Shah commended the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) for its decisive performance in the Odisha student union elections held on 15 October. Describing the victories as a testament to the country's youth uniting behind national progress, Shah noted that student voters have decisively supported stability and development.
In the elections held across 13 state universities, the RSS-affiliated ABVP secured victory in eight institution leaderships, building on recent momentum seen in Panjab University and Delhi University student union polls.
| Student wing | Political affiliation | University presidency posts won | Key outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABVP | BJP-backed | 8 | Swept Utkal University panel; won 8 VP and 10 Secretary posts |
| BCJD | BJD-backed | 5 | Won presidency at Rama Devi Women's University |
| NSUI | Congress-backed | 0 | Secured 1 General Secretary post |
Highlighting the election results, Shah stated that the national momentum among young citizens clearly demonstrates support for constructive governance. The ABVP claimed major gains across the state, including key positions at Utkal University and strong performances at Ravenshaw University, reflecting widespread youth alignment with national development goals.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| State universities won by ABVP | 8 out of 13 | Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad statement |
| Date of Odisha student elections | 15 October 2026 | State election official records |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| ABVP | RSS-affiliated student organisation victorious in Odisha polls |
| Amit Shah | Union Home Minister visiting Kolkata and commenting on Odisha student polls |
| Kolkata | Capital city of West Bengal hosting Durga Puja visit |
