Kolkata, Oct. 18 -- The Kolkata Durga Puja pandal stampede that left at least 19 dead and 25 injured on Saturday might have dealt a blow to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), although West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari ordered a probe and arrests, raising questions about accountability under his five-month-old government.

"Our party landed in the crosshairs of the opposition because Vijay Ojha, our Jorasanko MLA, became the chairman of the Chore Bagan Sarbojanin Durgatsav Samity in July. But he is not the only one. Many BJP MLAs and ministers in Bengal are associated with community puja committees," a BJP MLA said, requesting anonymity.

"This happened despite repeated warnings against the trend by BJP state president Samik Bhatt...