'Previous PMs Would Host Iftar Parties And...': BJP Hits Back as Opposition Questions PM Modi's Presence at CJI's Ganpati Celebrations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud’s residence for Ganesh Utsav celebration was intended to be a cultural and religious gesture, but it has instead set off a significant political storm in Maharashtra. The visit has raised concerns about the intersection of religion, governance, and judicial independence, sparking heated debates among the state’s political class.

While PM Modi’s visit to offer prayers at the CJI’s home during Ganesh Chaturthi was seen by many as a personal religious event, opposition leaders in Maharashtra have questioned the timing and optics, suggesting that the visit blurs the lines between the judiciary and the executive.

Leaders from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance, which includes the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) (NCP SP), and Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT), were quick to criticise the visit. They argued that the meeting between the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice, even under the guise of religious observance, could send the wrong signal about the separation of powers.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut echoed this sentiment, saying, “The Prime Minister represents the executive branch of government, and the Chief Justice symbolises the judiciary. Public interactions like these, during a high-profile religious event, can easily be interpreted as a breach of the judiciary’s autonomy.”

Unsurprisingly, leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have tried to downplay the controversy. Rather, Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, put a up a post on X (formerly Twitter) and shared the links of former CJI attending a function at the residence of then PM Dr Manmohan Singh.

In the same post, Fadnavis stated, “The celebration of Ganesh Utsav is in full swing across the country, with deep devotion being shown in the worship of Lord Ganesha. Yesterday, there was also the Mahalakshmi Puja as part of Gauri-Ganpati festivities. Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed the Ganesh Aarti and Mahalakshmi Puja yesterday at the residence of the Chief Justice of India, Hon Justice Dhananjay Chandrachud. The Chief Justice hails from Maharashtra, and every year he brings a Ganesha idol for worship, especially from a Maharashtrian individual in Delhi. But suddenly, an entire ecosystem has reacted as if the sky has fallen. The only difference is that previous Prime Ministers would host Iftar parties at their residences, and the Chief Justices would attend them. But when Hon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the Ganpati and Mahalakshmi Puja, why is there such an uproar? Opposing Hindutva has now reached the point where even Ganesha, Gauri, and Mahalakshmi are being opposed? This raises a deep question… Is this not an insult to, The festivals of Maharashtra, Maharashtra Dharma, Marathi culture And The devotion and faith associated with Gauri-Ganpati?”

According to BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye, “Ganesh Chaturthi transcends political boundaries, and the Prime Minister’s visit to the CJI’s residence was purely a religious occasion. To make this into a political issue is absurd and shows the opposition’s desperation.”

BJP-aligned political commentators echoed this stance, arguing that festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi are times for cultural unity, not political point-scoring. “This is nothing more than a festival visit that some in the opposition are using to manufacture a controversy,” said political analyst Deepak Kelkar, aligning with the BJP’s narrative.

Manoj Jha, RJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP, told news agency PTI that the independence of every institution is not just theoretical, but must be seen. “Ganpati puja is a personal issue, but you are taking a camera. The message it sends is uncomfortable. The Chief Justice of India and the Prime Minister are tall personalities. So what can we say if they agreed to put out these photographs in the public domain.”

Beyond the political back-and-forth, legal experts have also weighed in on the implications of the Prime Minister’s visit. Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan cautioned that while no laws prohibit such visits, they can raise concerns about the independence of the judiciary. “There is an unwritten tradition in India that the executive and judiciary maintain a respectful distance to protect the integrity of both institutions,” Bhushan noted. “The optics of such interactions matter, particularly when public trust in the judiciary is crucial,” he added.

Ganesh Chaturthi holds deep cultural significance, particularly in Maharashtra, where the festival has historically carried political undertones. Introduced by freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak as a unifying festival during the British rule, it remains a time of heightened political and social activity. For many in Maharashtra’s political scene, Modi’s visit to the CJI’s residence underscores how closely religion, politics, and governance are intertwined in India. The event, which was meant to be a simple religious observance, has now become a flashpoint in the ongoing debates around the separation of powers in India’s democracy.

As the controversy unfolds, it reflects the persistent tension in Indian politics between the roles of religion, governance, and judicial independence. Whether or not this incident will lead to long-term implications for the relationship between the executive and judiciary remains to be seen. For now, however, it is another battle in Maharashtra’s ever-complex political landscape.