“Police are trying to stop us from campaigning. A candidate has the right to campaign in every part of the constituency. We strongly condemn this high-handedness from the state police,” said Halim.

According to sources, police cited Section 144 of the CrPC for disallowing Halim from campaigning. Halim, the niece of actor Naseeruddin Shah, said when she and her supporters reached the Kalighat area, they found police barricades. When she asked the police to allow her to distribute campaign leaflets at shops and residences in the locality, it was denied too. The CPI(M) cadres then shouted slogans against the police and a section of party workers tried to break through the barricades which resulted in a scuffle with the police.

Kolkata Dakshin goes to the polls in the last and seventh phase on June 1.