In the land of West Bengal, there was a time when allegiance to political parties was the identity that mattered. While that still remains, the state is now seeing a crucial change – the emergence of religious identity, which has become more noticeable than ever.

The inauguration of a Lord Jagannath Temple in Digha, East Medinipur, by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) government led by CM Mamata Banerjee only validates it.

Unlike the Ram Temple of Ayodhya, whose construction wasn’t sponsored either by the Uttar Pradesh government or the Centre, the temple in Digha is constructed by the state government. The Banerjee government spent Rs 250 crore on the project spread over 20 acres.

The temple is designed similar to the famous Lord Jagannath Temple of Puri, Odisha. The Puri temple is one of the most important temples in Hinduism, as it is one of the four temples of the Char Dham, a concept popularised by the 8th century philosopher Adi Shankaracharya.

The temple will boost the tourism of Digha, which is already a popular seaside tourist destination. However, it would be naive to believe that was the sole aim of the TMC government.

Before rising to power, Banerjee had tilted towards Left-oriented politics, projecting herself as the main inheritor of the Left-wing politics amid the Communist Party of India (Marxist)........

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