West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is expected to visit Furfura Sharif, a village in the Hooghly district considered a holy place for Muslims, on Monday. According to sources in the state secretariat Nabanna, there may be a meeting with Pirzada Toha Siddiqui during her visit. Banerjee is also expected to participate in an iftar organised by the government.

The primary purpose of her visit, as stated by sources from Nabanna, is to discuss the development projects in Furfura Sharif and the proper utilisation of government funds for these initiatives. With Assembly elections scheduled for next year, many have questioned the timing of the chief minister’s visit.

Last week, Indian Secular Front (ISF) MLA Naushad Siddique met Banerjee in Nabanna. Siddique later informed the media that he had met with the chief minister to discuss certain administrative matters. He expressed that he was unable to utilise the MLA’s local area development funds. He clarified that there had been no political discussions during this meeting. According to him, Banerjee assured him all sorts of assistance.

Before the 2021 Assembly elections, the state government allocated substantial funding to Furfura Sharif for installing LED lights and other beautification projects related to the shrine. Recently, some Pirzadas have voiced concerns about the funds provided by the state and raised questions about the transparency of fund allocation. They have also expressed concerns about the development of Furfura Sharif. According to reports, steps are being taken to address these issues.

Speaking to The Indian Express, BJP MP Shamik Bhattacharya said, “The Trinamool Congress engages in divisive politics, whereas we believe in decisive politics. We do not categorise voters as Hindus or Muslims; our approach is holistic. We develop our policies emphasising cohesiveness to maintain harmony in society.”