“PM Modi’s Kolkata Roadshow Draws Crowds, Boosts BJP Campaign before Final Polls”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held his first roadshow in Kolkata as part of his campaign for the BJP candidates ahead of the final phase of polling. The roadshow started at about 7:10 pm and slow-moving vehicles took about an hour and a half to cover a distance of a little over 2 kilometres to reach their destination at Vivekananda’s residence where he paid honour to the spiritual leader. The PM was attended by other BJP leaders, including LoP Shuvendu Adhikari and state BJP chief Sukanta Mazumdar. He held a 2.5 KM roadshow from Shyam Bazar to Shimla Street.

Women supporters, dressed in a decent saffron sari, also contributed to the colourful procession. Hymns of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Phir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar’ echoed in the air as the vehicle passed by, with many viewers capturing the event on their mobile phones.

In the first roadshow, the TMC supremo walked from Birati Banik More to Airport gate number 2 on Jessore Road, a distance of nearly four kilometres, along with party leaders and workers. In the second roadshow, Banerjee walked from Entally Market in the northern part of the city and to Ballygunge Phari in south Kolkata, nearly 5 kilometres away.

Given the public safety and convenience in connection with visit of the Prime Minister of India to the city of Kolkata on 28.05.2024 and 29.05.2024, I, Vineet Kumar Goyal, Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, do hereby order that movement and parking of vehicles for the city of Kolkata shall be regulated in the following manner notwithstanding any other orders in force on 28.05.2024 and 29.05.2024,” the traffic police wrote in a statement.

A massive number of followers crowded the way during the roadshow. People have been occupying both sides of the roads since hours ago. On the other hand, the Prime minister paid a floral tribute to Swami Vivekanand. During his visit, he also inaugurated main infrastructure projects including the Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section of the Kolkata Metro’s East-West corridor, which is famous for being India’s first underwater metro segment under the Hooghly River​. Moreover, he inaugurated other metro extensions and projects across the city​.

The roadshow has been a topic of controversy due to the imposition of Section 144 by the Kolkata Police in parts of Central Kolkata, which controls the assembly of more than four people. The BJP accused the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government of using these restrictions to disrupt Modi’s rally. However, the Kolkata Police clarified that the imposition of Section 144 was a routine measure renewed every two months for security reasons, not specifically aimed at the Prime Minister’s event​.

Moreover, Modi addressed a public rally in Barasat, North 24 Parganas, and continued to criticize the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, urging voters to ensure the party’s defeat in the upcoming elections​. The roadshow and the accompanying political manoeuvres underscore the high stakes in West Bengal, where both the BJP and TMC are competing for dominance. The BJP’s aggressive campaign scheme in the state shows its broader goal to increase its influence beyond its traditional strongholds.

These events highlighted the tense political atmosphere in West Bengal, with both the BJP and TMC gearing up for the important final phase of the elections. Previously, Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee also held a roadshow in Kolkata. Remarkably, Kolkata’s Uttar (North) and Dakshin (South) seats along with 7 other constituencies will go to polls in the last phase on June 1. The results will be stated on June 4, 2024.This rally was organized in support of TMC’s Kolkata Dakshin candidate Mala Roy, who is seeking a second term from the constituency, and Kolkata Uttar candidate Sudip Bandyopadhyay, fighting for a straight third term from the seat.