The EC should ensure that Sunday's polling is held without the "undue interference of the central government" and any "intervention by the ruling party at the Centre", Banerjee, West Bengal chief minister said in the letter written on her official letterhead.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a press conference with BJP president Amit Shah at BJP headquarters in New Delhi.

"It was my personal opinion remark. My intention was not to hurt anyones sentiments. If Ive hurt anyone I do apologise. What Gandhi Ji has done for the country cannot be forgotten. My statement has been twisted by the media," Sadhvi Pragya, an accused in the Malegaon blast case, said.

Senior IPS officer and former Kolkata Police chief Rajeev Kumar on Thursday reported at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), a day after he was relieved from duty in West Bengal by the Election Commission, officials said.

The Opposition DMK in Tamil Nadu Thursday criticised the Election Commission for curtailing campaigning in West Bengal by 20 hours, throwing its weight behind West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led TMC.

Accusing the BJP-RSS of systematically attacking Bengal and its ethos, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury Wednesday said the saffron party was opposed to the very ideas propagated by social reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, whose statue was desecrated in the violence during BJP president Amit Shah's roadshow in Kolkata.

The reaction from the TMC came close on the heels of BJP president Amit Shah accusing the West Bengal's ruling party of indulging in violence in the state and alleged that the Election Commission has been a "mute spectator". 

Senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek O'Brien has blamed BJP Chief Amit Shah for the vandalisation of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar's iconic bust in the premises of Calcutta University. Derek O'Brien also went on to call Amit Shah a "liar".

Bharatiya Janata Party national President Amit Shah will hold a roadshow here on Thursday, a party official said.

The rally led by CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechuri and Left Front Chairman Biman Bose started from Vidyasagar Uddyan in central Kolkata's college Square to Azad Hind Bag near Hedua.

Amit Shah, while addressing mediapersons, on Wednesday said: "Their [TMC's] workers vandalised the [Vidyasagar] bust themselves. This is nothing but a desperate measure adopted by the TMC to gain sympathy. Mamata [Banerjee] didi knows she's losing the election."

A bust of the 19th-century social reformer was vandalised allegedly by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers during clashes at party chief Amit Shah's rally in Kolkata on Tuesday.

News agency ANI reported that sticks were hurled at BJP president Amit Shah's truck during Kolkata roadshow. Police had to resort to lathi-charge to prevent the situation from going out-of-control.

Amit Shah roadshow in Kolkata (from Dharamtala to Maniktala) is turning out to be grand show for the BJP drawing parallels from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Varanasi roadshow. Thousands have come out on streets, bringing Kolkata to a standstill.

On Monday, Amit Shah was denied permission to hold a rally in West Bengal’s Jadavpur. He was also denied permission to land the chopper.  

The day of result of the ongoing Lok Sabha polls is just a few days away and the parties are leaving no stone unturned to garner as much as attention and affection from the crowds as possible. To this end, PM Modi will address four election rallies in UP, Bihar and Chandigarh today.

Hitting out at BJP president Amit Shah over his "Kangal Bangla" remark, TMC leader and Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien Monday called him a "low-life" who "insulted" the state.

)Lok Sabha election campaign entering its fin With the al lap, BJP president Amit Shah has held public rallies and programmes in over 301 of the total 543 constituencies so far, totting up a total distance of over 1.51 lakh km since January, party sources said on Monday.

“Mamata didi, I am chanting Jai Shri Ram here and leaving for Kolkata, arrest me if you have guts,” said Amit Shah.

"This is murder of democracy. The EC should take cognizance of the matter. If important leaders are not allowed to hold rallies then what is the meaning of elections," Prakash Javadekar said.