Kamal Ghorui
Kolkata: As the city heads to the polls on Wednesday, campaigning drew to a close on Monday, with candidates making a frantic last-minute push to reach voters through eyeball-grabbing tactics. While one contender was seen carrying a mock EVM unit, another hauled a 25kg fish. Others, too, grabbed the attention of voters with inventive gestures and props. Still others braved the heat, criss-crossing lanes and neighbourhoods, taking their campaign to every corner of their constituencies in a final show of strength and visibility.Bratya Basu, the Trinamool Congress candidate from Dum Dum, campaigned with a 25kg katla to underscore that fish is an essential part of Bengali culture. On Monday, Basu began his final day of campaigning at Mathkal Sishu Udyan and moved through the bylanes of Sibtala and Surya Sen Palli. A giant fish, tied to a bamboo pole, was carried by two people throughout the campaign, with posters reading ‘Maache-Bhaate Bangali’.“Bengalis can’t live without fish, but if the BJP forms the govt, they will restrict people’s food habits. Some BJP candidates campaigned with fish as well, but they also know that things would change if the BJP comes to power. People must understand that they will be free to eat whatever they choose if Trinamool is voted to power. We have no problem with any food habits — some may be vegetarian, others non-vegetarian, and that is absolutely fine. We have no problem with that,” said Basu.From early-morning temple visits to late-afternoon rallies, the day unfolded with tightly packed schedules, colourful processions and door-to-door outreach. Veteran politician Kalyan Banerjee campaigned with his son Sirsanya on the final day of his campaign in Uttarpara. During a rally, Kalyan was seen in a light mood, dancing with party workers, while his son, dressed in a blue Panjabi, cheered him on.In Chowringhee, Trinamool Congress candidate Nayna Bandyopadhyay started her day with a visit to a Shiva temple in Ward 45, seeking blessings before beginning a door-to-door campaign in the area. By afternoon, she addressed a rally in Ward 62 alongside councillor Sana Ahmed, continuing her outreach amid a steady stream of supporters. In a social media post, she said she was “seeking blessings for strength and guidance while continuing meaningful interactions with people,” adding that “every conversation and connection adds deeper purpose to the journey ahead.“Her opponent, Santosh Pathak of the BJP, who recently joined the party from the Congress, led a roadshow from SN Banerjee Road to Collin Street later in the day. Flanked by party workers and supporters, Pathak sounded confident. “People of Chowringhee have been welcoming. They have assured me that they will opt for the lotus symbol on April 29,” said Pathak.In Entally, BJP candidate Priyanka Tibrewal took out a roadshow from Palmer Bazar to Vaishali Bus Stand in the afternoon, joined by actor-turned-politician Manoj Tiwary. “People have already made up their mind to vote for the development agenda of PM Narendra Modi. The Trinamool govt is on borrowed time,” said Tibrewal.Baranagar witnessed a similarly packed campaign schedule. While Trinamool candidate Sayantika Banerjee spent much of the day going door to door in Ward 8, later moving to Ward 18 with party workers, BJP contender Sajal Ghosh was seen carrying a prototype of an electronic voting machine to demonstrate the voting process to residents. “I have been showing voters where my name and symbol appear on the machine, and that by pressing the button beside my name they can cast their vote in favour of the BJP,” said Ghosh.In Jorasanko, Trinamool nominee Vijay Upadhyay began early, moving across Wards 22, 23 and 40 in a door-to-door campaign that stretched through the day. “Since it is the last day, we are trying to cover and connect with as many people as possible. I held a meeting at Baithakkhana in Ward 37, followed by a rally in Ward 39. There is no time for lunch. I ate a heavy breakfast at 8.30 am and managed the day on tea, biscuits and fruits.“His opponent, Vijay Ojha of the BJP, focused on wards 22 and 23, considered strongholds for the party, while also reaching out to other parts of the constituency. While Trinamool candidate Shrreya Pande held door-to-door campaigns in Ultadanga and Maniktala, BJP candidate Tapas Roy from the same assembly constituency spent most of the day at the election office planning for the final phase. He said: “My door-to-door campaign is over, and after the grand rally by the Prime Minister, no further campaigning is required.“Ballygunge CPM candidate Afreen Begum took part in a rally from Mallik Bazar to Modern High School in Ballygunge on Monday.
