KOLKATA: Clashes broke out between supporters of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kolkata’s Bhabanipur area on Saturday.Police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel to intervene and separate the two groups. The incident occurred days before polling on 29 April, as campaigning for the second phase of the West Bengal assembly elections intensified. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee and leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari held election meetings in close proximity, adding to the political tension in the constituency. According to officials and eyewitness accounts, the situation escalated on Chakraberia Road after Banerjee abruptly ended her speech and left the stage. She later alleged that high-decibel loudspeakers from a nearby BJP rally disrupted her address, calling it “intentional disturbance”. Expressing frustration, Banerjee apologised to her supporters before leaving the venue. Shortly after, groups of TMC workers moved towards the BJP rally site, where they confronted BJP supporters. The exchange quickly turned heated, with both sides raising slogans of “Jai Bangla” and “Jai Shri Ram”, according to news agency ANI. Security forces, including RAF personnel, formed a human chain to prevent the confrontation from turning violent. Police said the situation was brought under control without any serious injuries reported. Suvendu Adhikari, who is contesting from Bhabanipur as well as Nandigram, reached his rally site after the incident. He criticised the TMC’s reaction, describing it as politically motivated. “This is goonda raj, jungle raj. We are trying to end it. Whatever TMC does will backfire. This time it will not be one-sided. Drive away the goons, save Bengal,” Adhikari said. He also referred to the TMC’s protest as a sign of “jungle raj”. The confrontation highlights the increasingly sharp rivalry between Banerjee and Adhikari, who was once a senior leader in the TMC before joining the BJP. Bhabanipur, which Banerjee has represented since 2011, is seen as a politically significant constituency for both parties. The BJP has described the seat as a key target in the 2026 state elections, while for Banerjee it remains central to her political standing in Kolkata, often referred to by her supporters as her “Kolkata throne”. A victory for Adhikari here would be seen as a major political breakthrough, following his 2021 win against Banerjee in Nandigram. The constituency is considered demographically diverse, with significant Bengali, Gujarati, Marwari and Sikh populations, making it a closely watched battleground. With polling due on 29 April, security has been tightened across Bhabanipur and adjoining areas. Officials said drone surveillance and paramilitary deployment have been increased to maintain order during the final phase of campaigning. According to the Election Commission of India, Phase I polling concluded earlier this week with a turnout of 91.78%. The remaining phases are scheduled to continue under heightened security arrangements, with counting set for 4 May.
