Kolkata, 02 April (H.S.): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday held a roadshow in Kolkata ahead of the nomination filing of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Suvendu Adhikari from the politically significant Bhabanipur Assembly constituency, calling for political change in West Bengal.

The roadshow began from Hazra crossing, with Shah and Adhikari sharing the stage and greeting party supporters. Several other BJP candidates, who are also scheduled to file their nominations on Thursday, participated in the programme.

Addressing party workers and supporters, Shah asserted that political change in West Bengal was inevitable and said Bhabanipur would play a crucial role in that process. He urged voters to ensure a decisive victory for BJP candidates to bring about change in the state.

Shah said he had encouraged Adhikari to contest not only from Nandigram but also from Bhabanipur, considered a stronghold of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He claimed that although Banerjee had formed the government in the last Assembly elections, she had lost to Adhikari in Nandigram.

He further claimed that while the BJP aims to reach the majority mark by winning seats one by one, a victory in Bhabanipur would send a strong political message. Shah also remarked that defeating Banerjee in Bhabanipur would act as a “shortcut” to usher in change in the state.

Earlier in the day, Adhikari visited a gurdwara and the Lakshminarayan temple in Bhabanipur to offer prayers before filing his nomination. According to BJP sources, after the roadshow the candidates were scheduled to proceed to the Survey Building to complete the nomination process.

Notably, Amit Shah arrived in Kolkata late Wednesday night to attend the nomination programme, which the BJP is also viewing as a show of organisational strength ahead of the elections.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh