Mamata Banerjee chanting Hindu shlokas an ideological win for BJP, says Yogi Aditynath

Watch: Amit Shah, Mamata's mass roadshows in Bengal, Covid rules ignored

Ahead of the sixth phase of voting in West Bengal, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held massive roadshows. While the BJP leader held a rally in Habra, the Trinamool Congress chief led a roadshow in Kolkata. Many participants at the rallies didn't follow Covid protocol, failing to maintain social distance. Some didn't even wear face masks. Watch the full video for more.

Jharkhand Congress MLA Irfan Ansari performs puja at temple, BJP MP demands his arrest

Jharkhand Congress MLA Irfan Ansari stoked controversy by performing puja at a temple. Ansari performed puja at Deoghar's Baidyanath Dham temple, a sacred abode of Lord Shiva. BJP MP Dr Nishikant Dubey demanded arrest of Ansari after he offered prayers at temple. Dubey claimed that entry of non-Hindus is strictly not allowed at Baidyanath temple. The MP from Godda demanded that Jharkhand's JMM-led govt order arrest of Ansari. He also sought action against the deputy commissioner and SP of Deoghar. Meanwhile, Ansari accused Dubey of playing dirty politics in the name of religion. Ansari, MLA of Jamtara, had entered temple's sanctum sanctorum with his companions and performed puja. Ansari claimed that he has been coming to the temple since childhood to seek blessings.

'Black day for Deoghar as Congress MLA Irfan Ansari entered Baidyanath Dham temple': Nishikant Dubey

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Nishikant Dubey on April 16 said that today it is a black day for Deoghar as Congress MLA Irfan Ansari entered the Baidyanath Dham temple besides being a non-Hindu. Dubey said, "Entry of non-Hindus is not allowed in Baidyanath Dham temple at Deoghar. But Congress MLA Irfan Ansari entered the temple. I've spoken to chief secretary, demanding suspension of DC and SP. I've also demanded that Ansari be booked under NSA."

'Hindu counter-polarisation for BJP rooted in...': Yashwant Deshmukh on WB polls

Halfway through the West Bengal elections, a controversy over Trinamool Congress' poll strategist Prashant Kishor's leaked chat caused a storm. One of the statements made by Kishor, as released by BJP, involved a declaration that 'if there's a vote, it's for Hindus, for polarisation, and for Modi'. Pollster Yashwant Deshmukh decodes this statement, and how political parties in India have used appeasement and polarisation politics to win votes. Watch the full video for more.