Kolkata: The high-octane political campaigning for the crucial second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections concluded on Monday evening.
A staggering 3.21 crore voters are poised to decide the fate of candidates across 142 constituencies on April 29.
The campaign trail was dominated by fiery rhetoric over infiltration, corruption, and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, unfortunately marred by sporadic incidents of violence. In Jagatdal and Goghat, clashes erupted between TMC and BJP workers over putting up political posters, leading to police lathi-charges and multiple arrests.
To ensure a smooth voting process at over 41,000 polling stations, the Election Commission has deployed an unprecedented 2,321 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) across seven districts, with Kolkata alone securing 273 companies. Drone surveillance and webcasting will be heavily utilised.
This phase features the mother of all electoral battles in Bhabanipur, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is locked in a fierce contest against BJP heavyweight Suvendu Adhikari.
Addressing his final rally in Jagatdal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed unwavering confidence. “Bengal’s safety and development are now my responsibility. Parivartan(
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah promised a dedicated squad to eradicate cattle smuggling and “syndicate raj.”
Countering the saffron surge, Mamata Banerjee held a massive roadshow in Bhabanipur, accompanied by RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav. Banerjee alleged potential tampering of the voting machines. “They will put a chip in the EVM; please check the machine carefully before voting,” she cautioned her supporters. Adding to the offensive, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee accused the BJP of failing to deliver on past promises like generating two crore jobs.
As the dust settles, all eyes are now on the April 29 polling day.
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