WB: Amit Shah holds roadshow in Mamata's turf, clashes break out

It was a sea of saffron in Kolkata on Tuesday when BJP president Amit Shah held a roadshow taking the battle against arch-rival TMC to Mamata Banerjee's den.

BJP supporters chanted "Jai Shri Ram" as activists dressed up as Lord Ram, Sita and Hanuman walked along with 'gada' (mace), not often seen on the streets of the metropolis where a distinct Bengali culture exists. There were Sikh men dancing to Bhangra beats.

Shah meandered through Kolkata on a truck, decked up with marigold, as the crowd carried BJP flags.

As the road show came to a close, some miscreants started throwing sticks at Shah's truck leading to clashes. Police stepped in to control the situation.

Earlier. the BJP chief expressed confidence that a political change will happen in the state soon.

"The way people of West Bengal have come out today, it shows that the day is not far when the change will happen," Shah told ANI as he waved to crowds that had gathered on both sides of the streets.

BJP alleged that its party posters and flags were removed by TMC workers and police ahead of Shah's roadshow.

"Mamata ji's goons and police removed posters and flags of our party. They fled soon after we reached here," BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya told ANI.

Since the Lok Sabha polls began on April 10, BJP and TMC have been at loggerhead in West Bengal.

Voting for nine seats in the state will be held in the seventh and final phase of the general election on May 19. Counting of votes will take place on May 23.