Tension gripped a locality in West Bengal’s Howrah district on Sunday when supporters of the state’s ruling Trinamool Congress and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came face-to-face during an election roadshow in the area and engaged in a heated face-off with loud sloganeering.
The campaign march was being led by actor and BJP MP Ravi Kishan, who was canvassing in favour of party colleague and one of the candidates in the fray from the Howrah Uttar Assembly constituency, Umesh Rai.
However, when the BJP roadshow arrived in front of a TMC election office, the situation quickly turned hostile with slogans being raised by both sides.
While TMC supporters purportedly raised slogans of “Joy Bangla”, BJP workers responded with loud chants of “Jai Shri Ram.”
The sloganeering soon turned into heated verbal exchanges. However, prompt intervention by central forces’ personnel prevented any further escalation.
LATHICHARGE BY SECURITY PERSONNEL
Security personnel present at the scene resorted to mild lathicharge on both TMC and BJP supporters in order to pacify the situation. Tensions seemed to subside after the intervention.
By the time the scuffle took place, Ravi Kishan’s vehicle had already crossed the spot. While tensions lingered in the area for some time, the atmosphere eventually returned to normal. Police and security forces have increased vigil in the area.
Voting in Howrah Uttar and 142 other Assembly constituencies is set to be held in the second phase of the bhabanipur-over-noise-from-bjp-rally-100-metres-away-2901577-2026-04-25?utm_source=global-search&utm_medium=global-search&utm_campaign=global-search” target=”_blank”2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections on April 29. It will be followed by the counting of votes, scheduled for May 4.
(With inputs from PTI)
