Bengali Film Actor Rupa Ganguly
Actor and BJP leader Rupa Ganguly's public meeting was attacked by activists of Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress in Kolkata this evening.
BJP central leader Siddharth Nath Singh who rushed to the Alipore police station where Ms Ganguly was filing a complaint said, "West Bengal has become a fit case for President's Rule."
This is the first time any senior BJP leader has said so.
Ms Ganguly, who joined the BJP earlier this year, was campaigning for civic polls in Kolkata on April 18 when Trinamool workers allegedly barged onto the stage and manhandled her.
The incident took place around 5 pm at Gopalnagar, barely 300 metres from the Alipore police station and 400 metres from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's home in Kalighat.
"Women workers of Trinamool tried to stop me from getting stage," said Ms Ganguly. "I went up anyway and saw Trinamool flags on the stage. After asking the police present there if BJP had the legal right to hold the meeting there and they said yes, I removed a Trinamool flag hanging in front of me. Immediately they attacked - Trinamool men and women."
Ms Ganguly's car's windscreen was smashed. People trying to take pictures of the incident on their mobiles were beaten and media persons attacked.
Elections will be held to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation on April 18 and 90 municipalities across the state on April 25.
Opposition parties, including the Left, Congress and the BJP have accused the ruling party of trying to disrupt their campaign and resorting to violence.