Mamata Embraces 'Soft Hindutva': Mahakal Temple in Siliguri, Gangasagar Bridge Announced

• West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee announced a Mahakal temple in Siliguri and a bridge at Gangasagar, signaling a shift to 'soft Hindutva'.
• This strategy aims to counter BJP's Hindutva narrative and appeal to the Hindu vote bank before the 2026 assembly elections.
• The Mahakal temple targets Gorkha, tribal, and hill communities in North Bengal, a BJP stronghold.
• Mamata seeks to reframe her image, asserting her secularism includes respect for Hinduism, contrasting with BJP's 'Hindi belt's Hindutva'.
• The Digha Jagannath temple and Gangasagar bridge also serve to boost tourism, solidify her Hindu image, and challenge the Centre.

Why It Matters: Mamata's 'soft Hindutva' push with new temples and infrastructure aims to reclaim Hindu votes from BJP.