WB: Amit Shah holds roadshow in support of BJP candidate in Bankura

Bankura (West Bengal) [India], May 22 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a roadshow in West Bengal's Bankura on Wednesday in support of BJP candidate Subhas Sarkar.
The Home Minister was seated on a specially designed vehicle and was greeting the huge number of people gathered there.
BJP workers and supporters were seen walking along the roadshow with flags and posters of BJP.
Union Minister of State, Subhas Sarkar, is BJP's candidate from Bankura seat. He is up against TMC's Arup Chakraborty. CPI-M's Nilanjkan Dasgupta is also contesting from the seat.
The voting in Bankura is scheduled on May 25 in the sixth phase.
Earlier in the day, the Home Minister addressed a public meeting in West Bengal's Purulia.
He attacked the INDIA bloc, saying that the alliance "neither has leader nor policy." He also said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's only aim is to make her nephew Abhishek Banerjee the CM.
"The 'Ghamandiya Alliance' that has been formed has neither a leader nor a policy. If their government is formed, will they be able to give a befitting reply to Pakistan? Can they stop infiltration? Can they stop cow smuggling? They do not have any leader. Didi's (Mamata Banerjee) only aim is to make her nephew the Chief Minister," Shah said.
The 42 seats in West Bengal are being polled across all seven phases. The counting is scheduled on June 4.
In 2019, BJP made significant inroads into the state taking its tally to 18 as compared to TMC's 22.
Meanwhile, a row erupted over Mamata Banerjee's remarks, wherein, she accused ISKCON, Ramakrishna Mission and Bharat Sevashram of "acting under instructions" from New Delhi. She questioned why monks are getting involved in politics. Her remarks created a stir drawing heavy criticism.
"There is a maharaj in Behrampore; I have been hearing about him for a long time. Kartik Maharaj. He says he will not allow any TMC agent in the poll booth. I do not consider him a saint because he is directly involved in politics. I used to respect Bharat Sevashram Sangha a lot. It has been on my list of respected organisations for a long time," she said at an election rally.
PM Modi came out heavily against CM Mamata and said 'threats' are being issued against these socio-religious organisations to please their vote bank.
"The TMC government, which intimidated and threatened the people of Bengal during elections, has crossed all limits this time. Today, in the country and the world, ISKCON, Ram Krishna Mission, and Bharat Sevashram Sangh are known for service and morality, but today the Chief Minister of Bengal is openly threatening them, warning them from an open platform," PM Modi said.
"There are millions of followers associated with these missions all over the world, and their sole aim is to serve the people. The Bengal government has pointed a finger at him and is threatening his name. So much courage! Just to please their vote bank," he added.
CM Mamata later issued a clarification, saying she is not against Ramakrishna Mission or any institution, but was only talking about "a few people." (ANI)