On Sunday, security has been stepped up across West Bengal in the backdrop of Ram Navami rallies planned by the Bengal unit of the Bhartiya Janata Party. Dilip Ghosh, the Bengal BJP chief confirmed that rallies have been planned in Howrah and Kharagpur, where supporters will "carry traditional Indian arms." The Ram Navami procession in Howrah will held in the morning while the one in Kharagpur, which will be led by Dilip Ghosh, will start at 4 pm. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, at a meeting in Bolpur said "hooliganism will not be tolerated." Ms Banerjee told, "I know that there are only a couple of organizations in Howrah and Asansol which traditionally hold Ram Navami processions with arms. Those who have been celebrating Ram Navami for more than a decade will be given special permission to hold processions with arms."

"Do not allow anybody trying to hold such processions for the first time. We are not against organisations holding Ram Navami processions but they have to be peaceful," said the chief minister. Ms Banerjee has asked the Director General of Police, Surajit Kar Purkayastha, to be on alert and encourage people at the local level to stay vigilant and report anyone trying to disrupt harmony during the celebrations. Politics over Ram Navami has taken the center stage in West Bengal with both BJP and Trinamool trying get popular youth support in a pre-election year.