BJP's candidate to reach out to Mamata for campaigning

Campaigning for Lok Sabha elections may mostly be about sharp criticism of rivals and often bitter exchange of allegations. But this time Kolkata will witness a unique example of political courtesy as the BJP candidate from Kolkata South constituency Chandra Kumar Bose has decided to reach the doorstep of West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee for campaigning.

Bose is the grandnephew of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. He has contested against Banerjee in the 2016 Assembly election in Bengal.

If he gets the opportunity to meet the Chief Minister Bose plans to explain to her why there should again be BJP government at the Centre under the leadership of Narendra Modi.

Leaders of both parties are of the opinion that it is going to be quite a spectacle to see Bose explaining the need to vote Modi back to power to Banerjee, who is one of the most vocal critics of the Prime Minister.

“There is definitely political difference between us. But we do not have any bitterness against each other. The Chief Minister’s residence at Kalighat in South Kolkata comes under my constituency and it is my duty as a candidate to reach out to her and others in the locality,” said Bose.

His decision has also been welcomed by Mala Roy, the TMC candidate from the Kolkata South constituency. Roy has also decided to go to Bose’s residence for campaigning.

“He (Bose) belongs to the Netaji's family. I will definitely go to his house for campaigning. One has to keep in mind that courtesy is part and parcel of Mamata Banerjee’s politics,” said Roy.

However, she is yet to fix the date for visiting Bose’s residence.

Local CPI(M) candidate Nandini Mukherjee is also keen on reaching out to the TMC supremo for campaigning. However, she is not sure whether she will able to meet the “VVIP voter” due to security restrictions. Mukherjee wants to explain to the arch-rival of her party why the “alternative policy” of the Left should be supported.

“If she agrees to meet me I will definitely explain this to her,” said Mukherjee.