800 km from Ayodhya, Babri Masjid-Ram Mandir Replica Sparks Fresh Political Row in Bengal

Bengal on Edge as Ram Mandir and Babri Masjid Projects Collide Ahead of Elections

Ram Mandir replicas and Babri Masjid visuals have ignited a new political storm in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, where hoardings, posters, and leaflets depicting the Babri Masjid are circulating across villages and small towns. These materials call for the laying of a Babri Masjid foundation stone on December 6, exactly 33 years after its demolition in Ayodhya — and nearly 856 km away from the original site.

The proposed symbolic construction has triggered sharp reactions as the state inches closer to Assembly elections and tensions rise over electoral roll revisions.

TMC MLA at the Centre of the Controversy

The controversy surrounds Humayun Kabir, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA from Bharatpur, who has announced plans to lay the foundation of what he calls a smaller version of the Babri Masjid in Murshidabad’s Beldanga block.

Kabir insists the event is meant to promote harmony and remembrance, but critics argue the timing and symbolism are politically charged, especially as the date coincides with December 6, 1992, when the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya was demolished by kar sevaks, altering the course of India’s communal politics.

Kabir’s announcement has not only fueled public debate but also prompted swift counter-mobilization from Hindu organizations.

Hindu Groups Respond With Plans for Ram Mandir Replicas

In response to Kabir’s remarks, two Hindu groups have formed separate trusts to build replicas of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir within Murshidabad. These groups have announced that construction will begin soon, presenting their plans as a symbolic counter to the MLA’s proposed Babri Masjid model.

With both sides pushing religious symbolism into the public arena, Murshidabad is fast becoming a flashpoint for political confrontation ahead of next year’s elections.

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Electoral Roll Revision Adds Fuel to the Fire

The tensions come amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across West Bengal — an already contentious issue between the Election Commission (EC) and the Mamata Banerjee government.

Murshidabad, a border district adjacent to Bangladesh, has witnessed a sharp rise in registered voters in the past two decades. Since the 2002 SIR, the district has recorded an astonishing 87.65% increase in voters.

Other border districts show similar trends:

• Uttar Dinajpur: 105.49%
• Malda: 94.58%
• South 24 Parganas: 83.30%
• Jalpaiguri: 82.3%
• Cooch Behar: 76.52%
• North 24 Parganas: 72.18%
• Nadia: 71.46%
• Dakshin Dinajpur: 70.94%

The ruling party and EC have frequently sparred over allegations of irregularities, making the surge in voter numbers a politically sensitive topic.

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Mamata Banerjee to Visit Murshidabad

Given the rising tensions, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to visit Murshidabad on December 4. Her visit gains significance as political parties ramp up their outreach, particularly in regions experiencing demographic shifts and communal sensitivities.

Observers suggest that the simultaneous talk of Babri Masjid and Ram Mandir replicas — happening in the same district — could further polarize the political landscape ahead of the polls.

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