West Bengal: Poster war breaks out between BJP and TMC workers ahead of PM Modi’s rally in Durgapur

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to kick start BJP's campaign in West Bengal on Saturday for the upcoming Lok Sabha election with rallies in the border district of North 24 Parganas and the industrial town of Durgapur, the BJP accused the TMC of covering PM Modi’s posters with their own and stated that it was undemocratic.

The rivalry between the Trinamool Congress-Bharatiya Janata Party translated into an all out poster war with the BJP’s accusations.

“Just 50-70 metres away from the meeting venue of PM Modi in Durgapur, CM Mamata Banerjee’s posters are being put above PM’s banners. This is proof there is no democracy in West Bengal. When one of our workers protested against such activities he was attacked,” BJP National Secretary Rahul Sinha said according to .

BJP National Secretary Rahul Sinha said that around 50-70 metres from the rally’s venue in Durgapur, PM Modi’s posters were covered up by CM Mamata Banerjee’s posters. He said, “there is no democracy in West Bengal” and claimed that BJP workers were attacked when they protested against it.

The BJP has lodged complaint with the police and were confident that PM Modi’s rallies will be successful.

The Durgapur rally of the prime minister will be part of BJP's 'Ganatantra Bachao' (save democracy) programme in the state.

The industrial hub of Durgapur is near the Asansol Lok Sabha constituency held by union minister Babul Supriyo.

"Just as our party president Amit Shah had started the poll campaign in Bengal from Malda in a public rally on January 23, Modiji will kick start the campaign in Nadia and Burdwan West districts and boost our Bengal campaign," said BJP national secretary Rahul Sinha.

Union Minister of State, Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Babul Supriyo in tweet alleged that TMC party workers had removed PM Modi’s posters and replaced it with Mamata Banerjee’s posters. He also claimed that these workers had also attacked BJP workers.

The rallies are being held at a time when the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal has upped the ante against the BJP-headed government at the Centre and has given the call to oust the Modi government in the next General Election.

The TMC had on January 19 organised a mega opposition rally which was attended by leaders of 24 parties from across the country, including the Congress.

The TMC had alleged that the CBI was being "misused" by the Centre to harass opposition parties.

(with inputs from PTI)