Durga Puja Politics: AAP's 'PM Photo' Charge, BJP's 'Arvind Kejriwal' Reply

Durga puja in Delhi this year is set to begin on a contentious note as the ruling BJP and the Opposition Aam Aadmi Party are pointing fingers at each other over which party wants political mileage for its leaders. Senior AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj has alleged that Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has asked organisers to place photos of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in pandals intending that he be worshipped as well. Without issuing a direct denial, the BJP alleged that AAP had put photos of their party chief and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal "during chhat puja".

Calling it "blasphemy", Mr Bhardwaj said, "So now, will Bengali brothers and sisters be forced to worship PM Modi alongside Maa Durga?"

"CM Rekha Gupta asking to Place PM's photo near to Goddess Durga's idol in Puja Pandals is blasphemy. BJP mustn't play with Hindus' faith to run its political shop; Playing PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat at Ramlila bhoomi pujan was also wrong. Bengali community will not accept CM Rekha Gupta's 'Tughlaqi farman'; It has deeply angered entire Bengali community (sic)," read a post by him on X, formerly Twitter.

CM Rekha Gupta asking to Place PM's photo near to Goddess Durga's idol in Puja Pandals is blasphemy

BJP mustn't play with Hindus' faith to run its political shop; Playing PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat at Ramlila bhoomi pujan was also wrong

Bengali community will not accept CM Rekha... pic.twitter.com/l3MeQeQdRG

— Saurabh Bharadwaj (@Saurabh_MLAgk) September 10, 2025

Declaring that they would not be "blackmailed" by AAP, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said, "Saurabh Bhardwaj should not be the one to lecture us on this". 

"We had seen on social media how during Chhat Puja, they had put Arvind Kejriwal's photos. And the Trinamool Congress, whom AAP worships -- their leader was threatening pandal organisers that funds won't be given if Didi's photo is not put," he said. 

He said the party would run "Seva Pakhwada" from September 17 to October 2 on the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday.