Eyeing more seats in Bengal, PM Modi holds mega roadshow in north Kolkata

Despite two back to back rallies in Barasat and Jadavpur in Kolkata, bracing a humid day, Modi held the roadshow from Shyambazar to Simla Street in the evening flanked by Bengal BJP leaders Suvendu Adhikari, Sukanta Majumdar, and North Kolkata party candidate Tapas Roy who switched to the saffron outfit from the ruling Trinamool Congress.

The PM, who is also the star campaigner of the BJP, began his roadshow paying floral tributes to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. He concluded it by paying floral tributes to Swami Vivekananda at Vivekananda's House on Simla Street.

He participated in the roadshow standing atop a decorated vehicle adorned with flowers, BJP's poll symbol, and images of his face, reflecting saffron hues overall.

Photo courtesy: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

Hundreds of people gathered on both sides of the Bidhan Sarani with supporters waving BJP flags and greeting the Prime Minister as the convoy made its way amidst the bustling crowd.

Chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Phir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar’ could be heard with non-stop clicking of images as the vehicle passed.

Barricades were put up across the entire stretch of the PM’s roadshow along with a large contingent of police personnel.

Houses along the route were brightly lit and decorated with flowers, creating a festival-like atmosphere. Even conch shells were blown and hymns were chanted to leave no stone unturned for the massive show of strength.

Photo courtesy: Avishek Mitra/IBNS

Ahead of the roadshow, Modi also visited the Maa Sarada's residence at Bagbazar and paid homage to her.

The BJP, which is aiming to improve its tally from 18 seats in this current election, is betting on Trinamool Congress turncoat Tapas Roy, who joined the saffron camp just weeks before the elections were declared.

In Images: PM Modi’s roadshow in Kolkata

To make further inroads in the state, Modi led a whole day of campaign and addressed rallies in Barasat and Jadavpur before the grand roadshow.

He attacked Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in his rallies vowing to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) with people’s support despite the opposition from the CM.

“CAA is a law to grant citizenship and not to snatch away the citizenship of anyone. TMC is spreading disinformation about it to pursue its votebank politics,” he said at the rallies.

As a counter to Modi's campaign, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held two road shows in support of Trinamool Congress candidates in Dum Dum and the two Kolkata seats earlier in the day.

She campaigned at the areas covering on foot nearly nine kilometres on a sultry afternoon.

The last phase of Lok Sabha elections will be held on June 1 and counting of votes will be done on June 4.