Green Brigade to saffron: Victory celebrations, homage to martyrs set stage for a new era

Kolkata: The Brigade Parade Ground, long seen as the stage for Bengal's shifting political tides — from the Left's sea of red to the Trinamool Congress's green dominance — turned decisively saffron on Saturday as the BJP formed its first govt in Bengal after its sweeping assembly election victory.The sprawling Maidan hosted a massive oath-taking ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and senior BJP leaders from various states. But amid the celebrations, a quieter and more emotional corner of the Brigade drew thousands through the day. A Smriti Sthal, decorated with white and yellow flowers and set up near the main stage, displayed the names of BJP workers whom the party claimed were killed in political violence across Bengal over the past decade. Supporters stopped before the memorial, folded their hands in silence and placed flowers before returning to the swelling crowds around the main venue."A tribute to the courageous BJP Karyakartas," PM Modi posted on X while sharing a photograph of the memorial. "Even in the midst of celebrations... we remembered all those BJP karyakartas who laid down their lives in the service of an ideal greater than themselves. Their sacrifice is etched forever in the journey of the party. Their courage will remain a source of strength for all of us."Across the Maidan, the atmosphere swung between celebration and remembrance. Giant cutouts of Modi, saffron flags and party banners dominated the Brigade as supporters arrived overnight from districts across the state. Loudspeakers blared slogans and party songs while volunteers directed visitors through multiple barricaded entry points under tight police security.By early morning, buses from north Bengal and western districts began arriving near the Brigade. Groups wrapped in saffron scarves crossed the ground carrying bamboo flagpoles while families searched for shade under the harsh May sun. Drums, chants and repeated announcements from the stage echoed across the field.Vendors along the edges of the Maidan sold tea, jhalmuri, fried peanuts and laddoos as crowds moved constantly between the memorial site and the main ceremony venue. Santi Biswas, who travelled from Nadia, said the long journey didn't dampen the mood. "We waited for this day for years. Even now it feels unreal that BJP is forming the govt," she said.Near the Smriti Sthal, supporters from Birbhum, Bankura, Hooghly, Jhargram, West Midnapore and Kolkata searched for names of workers from their districts.On Friday, Amit Shah, while announcing Suvendu Adhikari as BJP's legislature party leader, said the party's rise in Bengal came after years of struggle. Referring to BJP's growth from two assembly seats in 2016 to 77 in 2021 and 207 in 2026, Shah said the party should never forget the 321 workers who, according to BJP, lost their lives in political clashes.Among those at the Brigade was Piyali Das from Sandeshkhali, who said she wanted the new govt to focus on law and order and women's safety. "I am not a political person. But I was forced to come out of my home and protest on the road because of oppression by goons like Shah Jahan. But the Trinamool govt got me locked in jail for eight days. This day is a sweet revenge for that period," she said.A bunch of Muslim faces were also seen among the crowd. Moti-ur-Rahman, who had come from Jalpaiguri, said he was frustrated with the Trinamool govt turning Muslims into votebanks. "We want jobs and better education and we hope this BJP govt will show us that direction," said Rahman.