Kolkata, May 5: A section of West Bengal government employees on Tuesday celebrated the BJP’s assembly poll victory at the state secretariat, Nabanna, raising slogans and waving saffron flags during office hours.
Slogans such as ‘Jai Shree Ram’, ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Vande Mataram’ echoed within the multi-storied building in Howrah.
“It was not something we had seen before inside Nabanna. A group of employees suddenly started raising slogans,” said an official.
Another official said the situation remained peaceful.
“There was no confrontation or disruption of work, but the slogans did catch many by surprise,” he said.
Some employees expressed optimism about the political shift.
“We are very happy today. We voted for a change, and finally, that has come. Today we can speak freely without any fear,” said Samir Ghosh, a state government employee.
Calling it “freedom from misrule of the last 15 years,” another employee, Shampa Sanyal, said, “We were unable to speak out even when we faced hardship. Today, those fears are gone.”
Soumitra Das said employees were hopeful the new dispensation would address long-pending demands, particularly dues related to dearness allowance (DA).
During the election campaign, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had promised that if voted to power in West Bengal, the BJP would implement the 7th Pay Commission and clear DA arrears within 45 days.
The BJP secured 207 seats in the 294-member assembly, ending the TMC’s uninterrupted 15-year rule in the state.
