Samik Bhattacharya takes charge of College Square Durga Puja, Khunti puja on Rath Yatra day

The administrative landscape of Kolkata's prominent Durga Puja committees is undergoing a significant transformation ahead of the 2026 festival season. Following a major leadership overhaul at the Suruchi Sangha club, the College Square Puja Committee has officially announced a change in its top management. The command of the iconic College Square Durga Puja has now been handed over to senior leader Samik Bhattacharya. The traditional 'Khuti Puja' ceremony, which marks the official countdown and commencement of pandal construction, is scheduled to take place on the auspicious day of Rath Yatra with Bhattacharya in attendance.

This administrative shift follows a massive reshuffle at another of Kolkata's flagship puja venues, the Suruchi Sangha. The long-standing dominance of the 'Biswas Brothers'—former minister Arup Biswas and his brother Swarup Biswas—has come to an abrupt end. Arup Biswas, who served as the chief advisor for a long period, and Swarup Biswas, who functioned as the committee’s secretary, have both been entirely removed from their respective designations. In their place, the club has appointed Saurabh Sikdar, the BJP MLA from North Dum Dum, as the new secretary to oversee the upcoming 2026 celebrations.

The removals at Suruchi Sangha were triggered by intense local developments following the arrest of Swarup Biswas, which sparked public anger and a subsequent raid on the club premises. Investigative authorities conducted a thorough search lasting over four hours, breaking locks to recover various documents from the clubhouse and the adjacent puja grounds. Local residents also breached the club gates, discovering a luxurious bedroom and a modern bathroom inside the facility. While the structural committee has been completely reorganized to exclude the Biswas brothers, the venue and basic preparation arrangements for the Suruchi Sangha Durga Puja will continue as originally planned.