Amit Shah’s Bhowanipore roadshow sparks tension, war of words

Kolkata: Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s roadshow on Thursday ahead of BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari’s nomination in Bhowanipore triggered tension in the Hazra area, with supporters of rival parties engaging in heated exchanges. The rally also saw sharp political barbs traded between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Addressing the gathering, Shah urged voters to cast their ballots without fear and called for the removal of the TMC from power in the upcoming Assembly elections. He claimed that the BJP would win 177 seats in the state. “This time, no one should fear; no goon can stop the voters of Bengal. Everyone must vote without fear to uproot and throw TMC into the Bay of Bengal,” he said.

The remarks drew a strong response from TMC. Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh countered that similar claims made by Shah in 2021 had not materialised. “He had claimed 200 seats earlier, but the BJP got only 77. Going by that trend, the BJP may get around 60 seats this time,” Ghosh said.

He further alleged that the BJP was resorting to aggressive tactics due to a lack of public support and accused the party of being involved in violence.

Shah, meanwhile, appealed to voters to support Adhikari in Bhowanipore, asking whether they wanted a change in the Constituency. In response, Ghosh asserted that Mamata Banerjee would return to power for a fourth consecutive term with a strong mandate.

The roadshow passed through the Kalighat area, near Banerjee’s residence, where TMC supporters displayed black flags. As the rally moved through Hazra, sloganeering from both sides — “Jai Bangla” and “Jai Shri Ram” — led to verbal clashes between supporters.

The procession later moved past Kalighat Temple and headed towards the Survey Building, where Adhikari filed his nomination for the Bhowanipore Assembly seat.