New Delhi: A charged political moment unfolded in West Bengal’s Howrah district as Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari visibly lost his composure during a roadshow in the Bali Assembly constituency, following provocative sloganeering by Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers.

Adhikari, who had just addressed a rally campaigning for BJP candidate Sanjay Singh, was leading a convoy through the constituency when a group of TMC supporters began raising “Jai Bangla” slogans.

What began as routine political sloganeering quickly escalated into a tense confrontation. Watch the viral video below:

Eyewitness accounts and visuals from the scene showed Adhikari reacting sharply. Refusing to ignore the chants, the BJP leader picked up the microphone and shouted “chor, chor” at the crowd.

His anger appeared to intensify as he attempted to physically confront those raising slogans.

In a dramatic moment, Adhikari climbed up on his vehicle, seemingly trying to move closer to the protesters.

However, security personnel intervened swiftly, preventing him from stepping down from the moving convoy. Despite the restraint, his visible agitation underscored the intensity of the exchange.

Speaking later, Adhikari alleged deliberate provocation by TMC supporters. “I was campaigning peacefully with approximately 5,000 supporters. However, some Trinamool supporters intentionally raised provocative slogans to disturb the atmosphere,” he said.

He further demanded the immediate removal of the Officer-in-Charge of Bali Police Station.

The incident comes at a politically sensitive time, with West Bengal heading into a two-phase Assembly election scheduled for April 23 and April 29, with counting on May 4.

Adhikari is contesting from two high-profile constituencies: Nandigram and Bhabanipur.

In Nandigram, he faces TMC’s Pabitra Kar, while in Bhabanipur, he is set for a high-stakes rematch against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

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Their rivalry dates back to the 2021 Assembly elections, when Adhikari defeated Banerjee in Nandigram by a narrow margin of 1,956 votes.

Bhabanipur, however, remains a TMC stronghold, held by Banerjee since 2011, setting the stage for another closely watched electoral battle.

The 2021 elections saw TMC secure a decisive victory with 213 seats, while the BJP emerged as the principal opposition with 77 seats.

With political tempers already running high, the Howrah episode reflects the escalating intensity on the ground as campaigning peaks ahead of polling.