Kolkata, May 19: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday held a road show in Falta assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas on the final day of campaigning for the May 21 repoll, drawing large crowds who lined the route for hours in sweltering heat to catch a glimpse of the BJP leader.
The road show, from Baneshwar to Falta bus stand, drew men, women and children on both sides of the road who cheered for the chief minister and showered flowers on him. Adhikari waved at the gathering, accepted the greetings and returned the gesture by scattering flower petals on the crowd.
He began the road show after offering ‘puja’ and performing ‘arati’ at a temple, with chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram’ filling the air as BJP supporters assembled in large numbers. Adhikari boarded an open-hood vehicle for the road show in support of party candidate Debangshu Panda.
The area wore a festive look with BJP flags adorning roads and rooftops as supporters raised slogans.
In a significant symbolic gesture, Adhikari stopped for lunch at the home of Swapan Mondal, a BJP supporter who died during alleged TMC-backed violence following the 2021 assembly polls.
Locals participating in the rally alleged that for over a decade, they had been unable to exercise their franchise freely due to intimidation by what they described as “TMC-backed goons” operating under the influence of jailed strongman Shahjahan Sheikh.
Several alleged they had been forced out of their homes for backing the BJP and were prevented from casting votes.
Speaking about the public response, Adhikari said the gathering reflected “second independence for ‘Sanatani’ people”, who had long been suppressed.
“In my over 30 years in politics, this is the most overwhelming experience,” he said.
The procession passed through several parts of the constituency, with BJP workers projecting it as a show of strength ahead of the repoll. Party supporters claimed public enthusiasm had increased after the BJP formed the government in the state earlier this month.
The Falta repoll has drawn political attention as the constituency falls within Diamond Harbour, the parliamentary constituency of TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
No rally or public meeting was conducted in the constituency by senior party leaders, including former chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, during the campaign period since May 4.
TMC candidate Jahangir Khan on Tuesday announced his withdrawal from the contest.
