KOLKATA — Violence erupted in Central Kolkata’s Girish Park area today as supporters of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) clashed just hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address at the Brigade Parade Ground.
The confrontation, which occurred approximately 5 km from the rally venue, saw both sides engaging in stone-pelting and heated slogan-shouting, briefly paralyzing local traffic.
The Incident:
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Allegations: BJP activists heading toward the rally claimed they were ambushed with stones and verbal abuse without provocation. Conversely, TMC workers alleged that BJP supporters initiated the violence and targeted the residences of local party leaders.
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Casualties & Damage: Reports indicate several vehicles were damaged. In the ensuing chaos, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bowbazar Police Station reportedly sustained injuries while attempting to disperse the crowds.
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Police Response: A massive contingent of the Kolkata Police and Rapid Action Force (RAF) was deployed to Girish Park and surrounding areas to restore order.
The Political Backdrop:
The clash serves as a volatile prelude to the ‘Brigade Chalo’ rally, which marks the culmination of the BJP’s statewide ‘Parivartan Yatra’ ahead of the 2026 Assembly Elections.
PM Modi’s West Bengal Itinerary Today:
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Development Blitz: The PM is set to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for projects worth ₹18,680 crore, including the 231-km Kharagpur–Moregram Economic Corridor and the mechanization of Haldia Dock.
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Railway Connectivity: He will flag off the Purulia-Anand Vihar (Delhi) Express and dedicate six redeveloped stations under the Amrit Bharat Scheme.
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Show of Strength: With the BJP expected to announce its first list of ~160 candidates following the rally, today’s event is seen as a critical launchpad for the party’s electoral campaign.
Security across Kolkata has been significantly tightened, with over 3,000 personnel deployed at the Brigade Parade Ground alone.
