Kolkata: BJP has sent out 1,000 special invites for VVIPs — that include judges, industrialists, writers, actors and other important members of the society — to attend the swearing-in on Saturday. That apart, 9,000 other invites are being sent to senior BJP functionaries, family members of state icons and former state representatives. Preference is being given to those who attended meetings with senior party leaders before the polls. It will be a varied mix of representatives from the western districts and north Bengal, said party sources.“The invites are being sent from Lok Bhavan. The party high command has approved the list and sent it to Lok Bhavan. Only those with invitation cards will be allowed inside the designated area close to the main dais, which will be scanned and approved by the SPG,” said a senior BJP functionary in charge of the arrangement at Brigade. Over the last few days, clamour for special passes has led to queues at the BJP office in Sector V. Sources said a number of professionals — from industrialists to actors and educationists — visited the office with bouquets and congratulatory messages, keen to be seen as part of the close group of BJP functionaries. “I have already got a call for attending the swearing-in at Brigade on Saturday,” said Sanjay Budhia, MD, Patton. Sajjan Bhajanka, chairman of Century Ply, said: “I will be attending the ceremony on May 9. I got an invitation via a call. I think this is the best opportunity for a turnaround for the state.”Actor-danseuse Mamata Shankar, who was bestowed with a Padma Shri in 2025, is looking forward to attending the swearing-in. “Maa has been verbally invited. The cards are with someone else. She will definitely attend if the card is sent to her,” said her son Ratul. Tripura CM Manik Saha is attending the event and his brother, Tollywood’s distributor-exhibitor Ratan Saha, is also looking forward to the ceremony. “I was in Agartala when my brother took oath as the Tripura CM. I will be going to Brigade this Saturday, too. My brother will be coming down from Agartala the same day,” Ratan said. His son Satadeep is looking forward to being “a part of history”.
