BJP president Amit Shah on Wednesday squarely blamed the Trinamool Congress and its chief, Mamata Banerjee for what he termed as an attack on him during a road show in Kolkata on Tuesday, and accused them of being behind the destruction of a statue of reformer Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar in such incidents.

He also blamed the Election Commission of being a “mute spectator” to consistent violence in the six phases of polls held in the state so far.

“I want to tell Mamata Didi, that you are fighting polls in just 42 seats, whereas BJP is fighting across the country and has governments in 16 states. The fact that every other state has concluded polls peacefully and the state under you has not shows that the violence originates from your party,” he said at a presser at the national headquarters of the BJP in New Delhi.

However, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday accused the BJP of damaging Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar’s bust. Clashes broke out on Tuesday evening as the mega rally of Mr. Shah. Several people, mostly Trinamool Congress supporters, were injured.

He also said that the gate to the college where the bust of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was destroyed had been shut, with BJP karyakartas outside, whereas, the bust itself was inside a room, which was locked and shows no signs of forced entry. “Our people were outside the gates, with TMC members were inside the college, and controlling the administration of that college. The BJP cannot even conceive of a an act such as destroying Vidyasagarji’s statue,” he said.

Responding to a question he said that it was only due to the presence of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) at the road show, that he escaped with his life. "60 of our karyakartas lost their lives in the Panchayat Polls in the State in the past, so I do not want to say anything more," he added. 

He added that the events reflected the frustration being felt by Ms. Banerjee at what he termed as the BJP’s growing upsurge in support across the State. “The people will respond to this outrage at the polling booths. The fifth and sixth phase of polling has already put the BJP beyond the majority mark in Parliament and we will cross the 300 mark at the end of polls,” Mr. Shah said.