BJP's show of strength in Kolkata today, Amit Shah will hold roadshow

Shah, who held twin rallies in the state a day ago, will begin his roadshow from downtown Kolkata (Dharmatala). The roadshow is expected to end near Swami Vivekananda's residence in Manicktala which is located in north Kolkata.

Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani will hold two rallies outside Jadavpur University Gate number 2 and Hazra More in south Kolkata respectively.

Jadavpur was in the headline on Monday after Shah's rally was cancelled owing to denial of permission to launch helicopter by the state administration. The BJP president was about to hold a rally in Baruipur, which falls under the Jadavpur constituency.

Apart from launching a scathing attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Shah on Monday referred to the cancellation of his Jadavpur rally saying, "The Trinamool government has cancelled my rally. Whether they allow me to speak or not, people of West Bengal have made up their mind to oust Trinamool. People here are with BJP."

Meanwhile, raising the tension between the ruling Trinamool Congress and swiftly emerging opposition force BJP, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's scheduled rally at Behala at South 24 Parganas on Tuesday has been cancelled owing to denial of permission.

BJP's national secretary Sunil Deodhar has hit out at the Trinamool government tweeting, "Democracy is a joke in West Bengal - Granted Permission cancelled at last moment for @AmitShah Ji’s rally at Jadhavpur - Once again @myogiadityanath Ji’s rally permission cancelled in South Kolkata. DM & CEO both are working as agent of ruling Trinamool Congress."

West Bengal has turned out to be a state where Banerjee-led Trinamool and BJP are having a major face-off with the saffron party eyeing on to win at least 23 seats in the state. On the other hand, Trinamool, which had won 34 seats in the 2014 General Elections, is eyeing to win all 42 constituencies this time.

Image: File