In a revealing contrast of campaign styles, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s roadshow on Beadon Street and chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s impromptu meeting in Bhabanipur offered sharply different political atmospheres on the same day. With West Bengal heading towards the second and last phase of Assembly elections on 29 April, the back-to-back events in Kolkata highlighted not just organisational differences, but also varying modes of voter engagement.

Modi’s rally, scheduled for 3.00 pm, began at around 6.00 pm, with sections of the crowd waiting in sweltering heat. Attendance was modest, with roughly 2,000 people present along the route. Police had sealed off stretches of the road, and security deployment — including Central forces — was visibly heavy. Supporters lined both sides of the street with flags and cutouts, chanting 'jai Shri Ram' as the prime minister’s convoy passed.

However, the tightly managed nature of the event stood out. Security personnel appeared to position attendees along the narrow stretch to maintain visual density. Among those present was Sudarshan Sinha, who said he had come for a glimpse of the prime minister despite not being a BJP voter. Others expressed political support: Anil Paswan from Entally spoke of backing the BJP for “development”, while Avantika Sharma from north Kolkata said she was open to political change after trying other parties.

There were also murmurs of dissatisfaction within sections of the BJP’s local base. Some supporters from Baranagar complained that long-time party workers such as Jayanta Shaw were not given access to VIP enclosures, while newer entrants appeared to receive preferential placement closer to the convoy.

“I could have watched this on TV,” Shaw remarked. Conversations among attendees also touched on electoral prospects, with some expressing strong views about potential action against Trinamool Congress leaders. Police, when asked about the presence of outsiders, said there was no clear indication, noting that many in the crowd spoke Hindi.

The gathering dispersed quickly after the prime minister’s convoy moved on, with several attendees describing the experience as underwhelming.

A few hours later, in Bhawanipore, the mood was markedly different. Around 7,000 people gathered across narrow lanes in what resembled a neighbourhood event rather than a formal rally. Shops remained open, a green carpet marked the route, and a local band played between brief speeches by Trinamool leaders. Unlike the earlier roadshow, there were no extensive barricades, and movement remained largely unrestricted.

While BJP candidates from central Kolkata constituencies — Manicktala, Chowringhee, Jorasanko, Entally and Kashipur — had campaigned earlier in the day using smaller vehicles, the Bhabanipur gathering in south Kolkata appeared to draw largely local residents. Kolkata Police maintained a visible but low-key presence, with no Central forces deployed.

Among those present was local resident Satish Roy, who said he had come to see “my CM”, adding that he would have attended the prime minister’s event as well had it been held in the area. Banerjee’s interaction with the crowd was informal — at one point, she asked aides to fetch rosogollas from a nearby sweet shop, prompting an immediate response from those gathered.

Her remarks blended local references with political messaging. She spoke about neighbourhood Durga Pujas, long-standing community ties, and religious coexistence. “BJP says I don’t allow Durga Puja, but people come from worldwide now — UNESCO gave it heritage status,” she said, drawing applause.

Banerjee also focused on economic concerns and governance. “Who has the guts to fight Central agencies like me? They’ve hiked taxes so high, people can’t afford clothes or eating out. We haven’t; we give whatever we can with limited resources. We never disrespect the poor,” she said. She alleged that BJP-linked funds were being moved in vehicles from Odisha, telling voters, “Take the money, but don’t vote for them,” and urged vigilance regarding unfamiliar individuals in residential areas.

Referring to administrative changes, she claimed officers had been shifted and warned of possible attempts to move weapons across the Odisha border. “ED works for BJP, but Bengal is with me,” she said. As the gathering grew, she instructed police to ensure that passersby were not obstructed.

Her speech also referenced welfare schemes, future commitments, and opposition to detention camps, while mentioning incidents of distress and promising accountability. “If BJP targets Bengal, Bengal will target BJP,” she said in closing, drawing a strong response from the crowd.

Taken together, the two events underscored contrasting campaign approaches. Modi’s roadshow reflected a highly controlled, security-heavy format with centralised messaging, while Banerjee’s meeting leaned on familiarity, accessibility and local resonance. In a closely watched election, these differences in style — and how they are received — may prove as significant as the messages themselves.

Just days before the second phase of West Bengal’s Assembly elections on 29 April, Kolkata’s political atmosphere has turned palpably tense. Central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have stepped up activity with high-profile raids, while the Election Commission of India (ECI) has deployed large numbers of Central forces and personnel. The ECI also held a meeting today, 26 April in Kolkata with police observers and DEOs of districts going to polls on 29 April.

Ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders allege this reflects a coordinated BJP effort to tilt the polls, a charge the BJP rejects, maintaining that agencies are simply enforcing the law. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to hold a roadshow in north Kolkata today, the timing has drawn heightened scrutiny and political speculation.

The latest developments began on Sunday morning, when ED teams carried out searches at three locations in Kolkata, including Anandapur and Alipore. The raids are linked to a money-laundering probe involving fugitive history sheeter Biswajit Poddar, also known as ‘Sona Pappu’, who has been associated with illegal activities in areas such as Kasba and Ballygunge.

According to sources, investigators are examining financial links involving two businessmen believed to be close to recently arrested Joy Kamdar. Kamdar is reportedly providing information on alleged proceeds from land-related crimes and extortion being routed through intermediaries.

Officials said documents and digital evidence were seized, and further action may follow. Earlier this month, the ED had also searched the residence of a senior Kolkata Police officer in connection with the same network.

The TMC has criticised the raids as politically motivated, arguing that Central agencies are being used selectively ahead of polling. Party leaders point to social media videos released by the absconding Poddar as adding a provocative dimension to the case.

The BJP, however, maintains that investigative processes cannot be suspended during elections and rejects allegations of political interference. The proximity of the raids to the prime minister’s visit has nonetheless intensified debate over their timing and potential electoral impact.

Alongside these developments, the ECI has undertaken extensive logistical measures for the second phase of polling across seven districts. To address a shortage of polling personnel, more than 17,000 Central government employees — many redeployed from phase one districts — have been assigned duties such as presiding and polling officers.

South 24 Parganas has been allocated 6,620 personnel, followed by North 24 Parganas with 5,680, with additional deployments across Howrah, Hooghly, Nadia and other districts. The use of a large number of non-local personnel in such roles is being seen by some observers as a highly unusual step in the state’s electoral process.

Representatives of employee groups, including Swapan Mandal of the Votekarmi Aikya Mancha, have questioned the decision, asking why state government staff were not utilised more extensively. The TMC has echoed these concerns, suggesting the move could influence booth-level management. The ECI, however, has stated that the redeployment is driven by administrative necessity and aimed at ensuring impartiality.

Security arrangements have also been significantly expanded, particularly in areas identified as sensitive, including Kolkata, Purba Bardhaman and Hooghly Rural. Kolkata Police has deployed 229 Quick Response Teams (QRTs), along with 57 Flying Squad Teams (FSTs) and 57 Static Surveillance Teams (SSTs), the highest concentration in the state. Purba Bardhaman has 228 QRTs, while Hooghly Rural has 204. Each FST and SST includes central forces and a state police sub-inspector, with GPS tracking to enable rapid deployment.

Separately, a raid at a Salt Lake guest house — initiated following a complaint by TMC leader and minister Sujit Bose — resulted in the detention of eight individuals described by police as “outsiders” from Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Three were subsequently detained for questioning. The BJP has not issued a formal response on the matter.

At a recent review meeting in Barrackpore, the state's chief electoral officer Manoj Agarwal indicated that more Central forces would be deployed in phase two than in the first phase, with the stated objective of ensuring peaceful polling. However, in the current political climate, these measures have been interpreted differently by competing parties. The TMC alleges that the BJP is attempting to influence the electoral environment through institutional pressure, while the BJP argues that stricter enforcement is necessary to curb criminal elements.

Observers point to a convergence of developments — agency action in politically sensitive areas, expanded central deployment, and intensified campaigning — as shaping the run-up to polling. Political analyst Sujit Chatterjee described the situation as “pressure cooker politics”, adding, “Central might crushes state machinery, tilting fear towards BJP”.