BJP supporters from across West Bengal started arriving in Kolkata and neighbouring Howrah on Tuesday morning to take part in the saffron party's 'Nabanna Abhijan' (march to secretariat) to protest against the alleged corrupt practices of the TMC government.
The BJP has hired several trains, three from north Bengal and four from south Bengal, to bring its party members and supporters from different parts of the state to the metropolis and Howrah for the march. In view of the march, Kolkata police have imposed traffic restrictions in key stretches across the city.
Barricades have also been placed on the Second Hooghly Bridge, which connects the metropolis with Nabanna, a police officer said.
The BJP has planned rallies from three points to reach Nabanna. The one from Howrah Maidan will be led by Sukanta Majumdar. Another from Satraganchi will have Suvendu Adhikari as the spearhead. Dilip Ghosh will lead workers for the third rally from College Street, News 18 reported.
"The TMC government is scared of the public uprising. Even if they try to stop our protest march, we will resist peacefully. The state administration will be responsible for any untoward development," Ghosh asserted.
BJP leader Rahul Sinha, meanwhile, accused the Mamata Banerjee government of trying to forcibly stop the "democratic protest.” "Our supporters were prevented from boarding a special train from Alipurduar to Sealdah on Monday evening and even lathi-charged by the state police. The train left later with our activists and supporters," Sinha said.
Trinamool Congress spokesperson Joy Prakash Majumdar, however, said the BJP is attempting to create disturbance in the city for its "narrow, partisan politics". "We urge everyone not to fall in their trap," he said.
The Telegraph reported severe traffic disruptions are expected from around noon, an hour before the main procession is scheduled to start from College Square in Calcutta. The march is expected to involve 4,158 street corners and 3,75,985 people, News 18 reported.
(With inputs from PTI)