Kolkata, Apr 9 (UNI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday changed his usual roadshow campaign to launch a door-to-door canvassing in Bhowanipur's slum for party candidate Rudranil Ghosh.
With traditional fervour, the women and older people in the slum areas greeted Mr Shah, who even beckoned an octogenarian widow from her tile-roof house and sought blessings.
The widow immediately responded and blessed the Union Home Minister with her two hands even as the women members in the family and neighbourhood blew conch shells and chanted "Jai Shri Ram" in chorus.
The slum areas of Bhowanipur, is a bastion of TMC chief and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from where she won elections in 2011 and 2016 before going to Nandigram in East Medinipur to challenge BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari in the second phase poll, held on April 1.
A VVIP in the security status, Mr Shah was seen moving lanes and bylanes so narrow that only one man can move at a time leaving his security men far behind.
He took party candidate Rudranil Ghosh, who only yesterday complained that the TMC supporters preventing him to go to the people for wooing voters. Mr Ghosh is facing state power minister Sovandeb Chatterjee.
Mr Shah was seen distributing BJP leaflets to the voters-old and young- and introducing them with the lotus symbol.
The door-to-door campaign of Mr Shah at Bhowanipur in south Kolkata was first of its kind for BJP star campaigner, who usually hold roadshows and sometimes hold media conferences to tell party programmes and
commitment.
Earlier in the day, Mr Shah slammed Ms Banerjee, alleging the chief minister was vitiating the atmosphere with her remarks against the central forces.
He said he had never witnessed or heard such remarks from a CM as well as the chief of a political party.
"Being the chief minister she must be aware that the ECI has the sole authorities to deploy the central forces in any poll bound state and this is not under the union home ministry." Mr Shah said.
Mr Shah claimed that the Trinamool Congress' frustration over impending defeat is evident from Mamata Banerjee's outbursts against central armed forces.
"The frustration of TMC is very much evident from their action and speeches. I haven't seen such a leader or CM in my life who give statements to 'gherao CRPF'. Is she pushing the people towards anarchy? I don't understand," the Home Minister questioned.
Mr Shah said in the three phases of elections held on March 27, April 1 and April 6 , BJP has got unprecedented support from the people of Bengal.
“As per our estimation, BJP will win between 63 to 68 seats in the three phases,” he claimed.
Altogether the fate of 91 seats have been decided in the first three phases and the 4th phase to be held on Saturday for 44 seats.
Mr Shah said the way TMC had appealed to minority voters to come together and vote for the TMC, showed that its minority vote bank was also slipping away.
Ms Banerjee in an election meeting on Thursday claimed that central forces on poll duty in West Bengal were working under the instructions of the central government.
The TMC chief, who got two notices from the ECI, also asked the women voters to gherao the CRPF and another section of women to vote while the force was being gheraoed.
Earlier on Thursday night, the Election Commission issued a notice to Banerjee for her statements against central armed police forces deputed on election duty.
The notice said that Banerjee prima facie violated various sections of the Indian Penal Code with her remarks against the central forces. The chief minister has been asked to respond to the notice by 11 am on Saturday.
The EC said prima facie, the completely false, provocative and intemperate statements by Banerjee attempted to berate and vilify central paramilitary forces during the electoral process.
This is the second notice issued to Mamata Banerjee by Election Commission. The poll panel had on Wednesday issued a notice to Banerjee for violating the model code of conduct, after she allegedly urged the Muslim community to vote en block for the TMC at a public meeting in Tarakeshwar.
Mr Shah said people of Bengal peeved about Mamata Banerjee's failure to check infiltration, protest against CAA and appeasement politics.
“We have decided to establish a board for North Bengal. In the next 5 years, we will develop Bengal at all levels,” Mr Shah said.
He said development of the Hooghly riverfront is also on BJP's agenda. Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah on Friday said in the three phases of elections, BJP has got unprecedented support from the people of Bengal.
Lately in a tweet, Mr Shah said " I bow to Sri Sri Harichand Thakur ji, founder of the Matua community on his Janamtithi.He played a mammoth role in empowering, educating and uplifting the marginalised section of our society. His ideals & teachings will continue to guide us to fulfill our vision of Sonar Bangla."
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