Union Home Minister Amit Shah stepped up the Bharatiya Janata Party’s campaign in West Bengal today. He led a massive roadshow in Behala Paschim as the state approached the second and final phase of the Assembly elections. Meanwhile, large crowds lined the streets of South Kolkata, and BJP supporters waved flags and raised slogans throughout the route.
Key contest in Behala Paschim
In Behala Paschim, Shah campaigned for the BJP candidate Indranil Khan. The constituency has long remained a Trinamool Congress stronghold. Partha Chatterjee has held the seat since 2006. However, he lost his position after his arrest in the SSC recruitment scam case in 2022 and was later suspended from the party.
At the same time, the contest has turned multi-cornered. The Trinamool Congress fielded Ratna Chatterjee, while CPI(M) nominated Nihar Bhakta. Congress also entered the race with Saibal Roy. As a result, the roadshow saw strong mobilisation on the ground, with supporters raising slogans such as “Jai Shri Ram” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai.”
Confident pitch and UCC focus
Shah projected confidence in a BJP victory in West Bengal. In addition, he reiterated the party’s commitment to implementing the Uniform Civil Code after forming a government in the 294-member Assembly.
“The Bharatiya Janata Party is definitely going to form the government,” Shah said. He further added, “We have to implement the UCC. Our agenda is that there cannot be four marriages in India. So far, no major incidents of violence have been reported. Not a single death has occurred. The elections are being held peacefully.”
Meanwhile, in a post on X, Shah said the final phase would “create a new history.” He also stated that “every single vote will lay a strong foundation for change” and expressed confidence that “the lotus will bloom in Bengal.”
Security assurance before polling
Separately, Shah assured voters that central forces would remain in West Bengal for at least seven days after the elections, regardless of the outcome. He also urged citizens to vote without fear and highlighted the security arrangements under the Election Commission.
The campaign for the second and final phase concluded on the same day. Polling is scheduled for April 29 across 142 constituencies. Earlier, the first phase recorded a turnout of 93.2 per cent, with both the Trinamool Congress and the BJP claiming an early advantage.
Finally, results for West Bengal, along with Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, will be declared on May 4.
