Day-long TMC-BJP war plays out in Bhowanipore

Kolkata: With chants of ‘Jai Shri Ram' clashing with Trinamool's ‘Joy Bangla', the battle for Bhowanipore spilled onto the streets on Thursday as BJP's Suvendu Adhikari filed his nomination from CM Mamata Banerjee's backyard amid a roadshow led by Union home minister Amit Shah.

What was projected by the BJP as a show of strength quickly escalated into a political stand-off in south Kolkata, bringing traffic to a halt and leaving commuters stranded for hours.


The BJP's programme began at Hazra crossing at 11.50 am when Shah addressed party workers for around 10 minutes before climbing on an open-roof vehicle, with Adhikari embarking on a roadshow at 12.10 pm flanked by party workers spraying flowers and chanting slogans.

‘Dhakis', ‘Bohurupis' and party supporters on foot and on bike with saffron flags lined the streets chanting ‘Ebar Banglay BJP' and ‘Mamata Hatao, Bangla Bachao'. The convoy also included state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya and other candidates like Swapan Dasgupta and Santosh Pathak as it moved slowly toward the Alipore Survey Building, where nomination papers were to be filed.

However, after moving about 400-500 metres, just before Harish Chatterjee Street-Hazra Road crossing, the lane leading to Banerjee's home, Shah and Adhikari got down from the vehicle at 12.40 pm and continued towards the Survey Building in Gopalnagar, around 200 metres away in separate cars. Sources indicated Shah was aware of a possible trouble near CM's home that prompted them to change the cars and leave the area.

But even as Shah and Adhikari were gone, as the procession advanced towards Kalighat — just a few hundred metres from Banerjee's home — the atmosphere turned volatile. Trinamool supporters, many holding green-and-white flags and wearing black headbands, gathered along the route, raising slogans of ‘Joy Bangla' and ‘Mamata Banerjee Zindabad'. Within minutes, rival groups stood barely metres apart, shouting slogans and attempting to outnumber each other. BJP workers responded with counter-slogans.

Witnesses reported incidents of scuffles, hurling of shoes and other objects, though police prevented a full-blown confrontation. Cops formed human barricades across spots and there were around 1,600 personnel managing the stretch at that time.

It brought traffic at Hazra Road, New Alipore, Tollygunge Circular Road and Chetla Central Road to halt for over an hour. Vehicles were diverted to Chetla Central Road via Sadananda Road. Commuters had to get down from buses, autos or taxis to walk towards destinations.

Delivery worker Manoj Shaw said he had to walk nearly 3 km to complete an order.

Trinamool supporters gathered outside Survey Building, waving black flags and raising "go back" slogans as BJP netas arrived. At least one person reportedly suffered an eye injury, while a BJP worker lay down on road in protest. Adhikari filed his nomination around 1.15 pm in presence of Shah.