Hooghly, 24 April (H.S.): With the second phase of polling scheduled for April 29, the election campaign in West Bengal has intensified. In this context, Union Home Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Shah addressed a large public rally at Alkali Ground in Konnagar, Hooghly district on Friday.

Beginning his speech, Amit Shah paid tributes to local temples and noted philosopher and freedom fighter Sri Aurobindo. He claimed that the BJP is likely to secure more than 110 seats in the first phase of polling and asserted that the party would form the government in the state on May 5.

Raising the issue of illegal infiltration, Shah said that once the BJP comes to power, “every infiltrator” would be identified and removed from the state. He alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has treated such elements as a vote bank. He also promised to end the alleged “syndicate raj” in the state.

Highlighting women’s safety, Shah referred to incidents in Sandeshkhali, RG Kar, Durgapur and Kolkata, and said that ensuring women’s security would be a top priority under a BJP government. He stated that women should feel safe even stepping out late at night. He also announced that state-run transport buses would provide free travel for women.

Outlining welfare measures, Shah said that under a BJP government, girls would receive financial assistance of ₹50,000 for graduation, and economically weaker sections would be provided free medical treatment up to ₹5 lakh.

On the Ram Temple issue, he stated that from the Mughals to Mamata Banerjee, there had been opposition to its construction, but it was ultimately built under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also asserted that as long as BJP workers remain, “Babri Masjid will not be allowed to be rebuilt in West Bengal.”

During the rally, Shah appealed to voters to support BJP candidates Dipanjan Chakraborty (Uttarpara), Bhaskar Bhattacharya (Serampore), Dilip Singh (Champdani), and Debasish Mukherjee (Chanditala).

Political observers believe that the rally could have an impact on several Assembly constituencies in the region. The extent of its influence on the electoral outcome remains to be seen.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey