Ahead of the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections, Amit Shah did a roadshow in Kolkata, which saw the participation of a huge number of people. Despite all the efforts of the Mamata Banerjee government to scuttle the campaigning of BJP, including not giving permission for a rally by the BJP president, the roadshow is a huge success.
The Trinamool Congress and state police tried everything to prevent the roadshow becoming a success, but a large number of people joined it despite the fact that they risk action against them by TMC and administration for supporting BJP. The party’s posters, banners and flags of BJP were removed ahead of the roadshow. When asked about the same, Amit Shah said, ‘you see only flags and posters removed? I see seven of my party workers killed by Mamata’s goons. Mamata didi killed my seven workers’.
Talking about the turnout at the roadshow, the BJP president said that if people were not stopped by the state government from participating, there would not have an inch of vacant space. He also alleged that his rath was blocked for an hour, and he had to start his roadshow on a jeep.
Amit Shah reiterated that BJP will win more than 23 seats in West Bengal, and the party will win despite the attack by TMC. For Mamata Banerjee he said, her age has increased, so she should keep her temperature down. Because if temperature/anger is high, it raises BP.
Massive roadshow in Kolkata by National President @AmitShah Ji. Saffron Tsunami hits West Bengal. #BengalWithBJP No Doubt. pic.twitter.com/9YRZtHuvhA
— Chowkidar Debjit Sarkar (@DebjitSarkarBJP) May 14, 2019
During the road show, Amit Shah stood on a rath, or a truck decorated with flowers, which started from Shaheed Minar Maidan in central Kolkata and headed to Swami Vivekananda’s house in north Kolkata. Party workers were seen singing and dancing to the tunes of dhols and dhakis in the rally. It also included some tableaux highlighting the culture of various parts of the state.
West Bengal: BJP alleges that party posters and flags were removed by TMC workers and Police ahead of Amit Shah’s roadshow in Kolkata. Kailash Vijayvargiya, says,”Mamata ji’s goons and police removed all the posters and flags. They escaped soon after we reached here.” pic.twitter.com/QNrHnzHSbN
— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2019
Other than the usual slogans of the party, the workers also chanted ‘Jai Shree Ram’ during the roadshow, which will surely irk CM Mamata more. Artists dressed as Lord Ram and other characters of Ramayana also seen among the sea of saffron wearing supporters of the party.
#ElectionTracker : Dancers performing at @AmitShah‘s road show in Kolkata, West Bengal. #BattleOf2019 #ElectionsWithNews18 #LokSabhaElections2019
Follow LIVE updates here: https://t.co/MzD7aKjlLz pic.twitter.com/9uFXjZ8Osg
— News18.com (@news18dotcom) May 14, 2019
Many people familiar with the city commented that the crowd in the rally reminded them of Durga puja when all the streets in the city are filled with people on Vijaya Dashami. They also said that this scene is nothing like ever seen before in the West Bengal capital.
The election in West Bengal has been marked with large scale violence and electoral malpractices by the ruling party in the state. Several BJP leaders and workers have been attacked by TMC goons, including state party president Dilip Ghosh and Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The social media is filled with videos from polling booths from the state showing TMC workers voting on behalf of genuine voters, right in front of election officials and security personnel.
Although top BJP leaders have conducted several successful rallies in West Bengal, this is the first roadshow done by a party president. And the euphoric participation it has witnessed will definitely raise hopes of BJP that it will do well in the state.
