PM Modi to Hold Twin Road Shows in Calcutta Ahead of Elections

Calcutta, India - Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to hold two road shows in Calcutta to cover four Lok Sabha constituencies in the city and its outskirts ahead of the last phase of polls on June 1. This plan, proposed by the state BJP to the party’s central leadership, assumes significance as Modi has never held a road show in Bengal ahead of polls.

According to a state BJP leader, the proposal has been put forward and the Prime Minister did not reject it initially. Therefore, it is highly likely that the city could witness twin road shows of the Prime Minister ahead of the last phase of polls.

The initial plan suggests that the first road show could be held in the northern part of the city covering Dum Dum and Calcutta (North) Lok Sabha constituencies. The second road show has been planned to cover Jadavpur and Calcutta (South) Lok Sabha constituencies. There could be a gap of three to four days between the two road shows.

The plan to hold two road shows in Calcutta by the BJP is significant. The party did not plan any road show by their top leaders in the city ahead of the 2021 Assembly polls after home minister Amit Shah’s road show during the 2019 elections. The road show dealt a blow to the BJP after a 200-year-old statue of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was ransacked by an unruly mob at College Street following a clash between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress supporters. Many BJP leaders feel that the ransacking of Vidyasagar’s statue had hurt the Bengali sentiment and led to the BJP’s poor performance in Calcutta and on its outskirts in the last Lok Sabha polls.

Sources in the BJP said road shows were found to be more impactful than rallies. A road show attracts people as the Prime Minister would reach their doorstep and they don’t need to visit the meeting place. It also gives a boost to the morale of the party workers as they are engaged for three-four hours at a stretch. Furthermore, it sends a message to the electorate that the Prime Minister is giving importance to each vote in the area.

Political experts said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee adopts a similar strategy when she walks on the road before or after a rally. The BJP is apparently trying to follow the same strategy in the city so that the Prime Minister can connect to the electorate of the city and its outskirts where the party does not have a strong support base.

The BJP has also planned a series of road shows across the state by Shah and party national president J.P. Nadda.