Kolkata

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said that central forces would remain deployed in West Bengal for at least seven more days after the assembly elections.

Shah was addressing a gathering after leading a road show in Behala, where voting will take place in the second and final phase on April 29. The first phase of elections to the 294-member West Bengal assembly was held on April 23. Votes will be counted on May 4.

“Brothers and sisters, go and vote on the 29th, do not worry about the goons. The Election Commission has made extensive security arrangements, and I am telling you that even though the BJP will come to power, central forces will remain here for seven days," he said.

The road show was held on the final day of campaigning in support of BJP candidates for Behala Purba and Behala Paschim, turning the south Kolkata neighbourhood into a sea of saffron.

Standing atop an open-hood vehicle, Shah waved at supporters and showered flower petals on crowds lining both sides of the road.

Thousands of BJP workers and supporters, carrying party flags and orange-green balloons, thronged the route, raising slogans of “Jai Shri Ram” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai”.

Later, Shah took part in another colourful road show at Chandannagar in Hooghly district, drawing huge crowds.

Speaking on the occasion, the home minister said there is a strong wave in favour of the BJP and once voted to power, it would “push back all infiltrators”.

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He also alleged large-scale corruption in social welfare schemes by the TMC government, and asserted that those involved would not be spared.

Shah said it was essential to bring the BJP to power in West Bengal to transform the state into a “sonar Bangla (golden Bengal)”.