Chants of "Jai Shri Ram" filled the air as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah's roadshow in Kolkata drew a huge response. This after the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government did not give permission for Amit Shah rally. BJP chief, who a couple of days ago dared Mamata Banerjee to arrest him, went ahead with his roadshow that began from Shahid Minar in Dharamtala to Swami Vivekananda's residence in north Kolkata's Maniktala area.
As Amit Shah's cavalcade trudged along, making its way through the crowd, thousands of BJP supporters danced in traditional attire shouting "Modi, Modi" slogans, something that has become a routine in the Lok Sabha Election 2019 poll campaign.
As his caravan moved, the BJP chief exuded confidence after seeing the support of the people. Talking to India TV correspondent, Amit Shah said, "This is the support and love of people that you are witnessing. People in West Bengal want change."
This after posters of BJP chief were removed by the local administration. Political pundits compared Amit Shah's roadshow to PM Narendra Modi's Varanasi roadshow. BJP leaders accused the state administration of "resorting to hooliganism" to impede Shah's rally and alleged that the state's ruling Trinamool Congress activists were deliberately damaging the posters and cut-outs while removing them.
TMC and the BJP have been engaged in a high-octane battle in West Bengal. While BJP is going all guns blazing against Mamata Banerjee, the TMC supremo has single-handedly tried to thwart that surge. Opposition leaders have rallied behind Mamata Banerjee while BJP has managed to sleepless nights to TMC leaders and workers.
West Bengal will see the final phase of polling on May 19. The state recorded a record 80 per cent turnout in during Phase 6 polls. The counting of votes will be done on May 23.
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