'Khela Hobey Divas' now 'Ayushman Divas': BJP's tit-for-tat answer to Didi
The new West Bengal government, led by Suvendu Adhikari, has replaced the 'Khela Hobey Divas' with 'Ayushman Divas' on August 16. The move is framed as a political response to the previous administration's branding and a recognition of the historical significance of the date.
Why it matters
This reflects the intense political polarization in West Bengal, where symbolic dates and slogans are used as tools for political messaging and historical re-framing.
NEW DELHI: Suvendu Adhikari-led new West Bengal government scrapped the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress's (TMC) politically symbolic August 16 "Khela Hobey Divas" and replaced it with "Ayushman Divas" in a tit-for-tat political move.Mamata Banerjee's government had declared August 16 as Khela Hobey Divas in 2021 following the TMC's assembly election victory. The day was officially promoted as a sports initiative aimed at encouraging young people through football tournaments and the distribution of sports equipment. However, the slogan was an apparent dig as Didi had led her last term campaign with "Khela Hobey" slogan.Chief minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday announced that August 16 will now be observed as Ayushman Divas, celebrating the Centre's flagship Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme.
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