India, Sept. 25 -- West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday joined celebrations at a Durga Puja pandal in south Kolkata's Chakraberia, breaking into a few steps of Dandiya. But that has sparked a political row, with the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) questioning the timing of the move as it came just after at least 11 people died in the capital due to unprecedented rain.

BJP leader Amit Malviya called Banerjee "insensitive" over her dandiya at the pandal after the loss of life in the rain.

"Not even 24 hours since Kolkata was drowning and 11 people were electrocuted to death, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee found it appropriate to indulge in revelry and play dandiya during a Durga Puja inauguration in Bhawanipur's...