Supporters of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) clashed in central Kolkata on Saturday shortly before Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally at the Brigade Parade Ground, leaving a police officer and a BJP leader injured, officials said.

The violence occurred around 5 km from the rally venue as BJP supporters were marching to attend the meeting marking the culmination of the party’s “Parivartan Yatra” ahead of the Assembly elections. Eyewitnesses said supporters of both parties allegedly hurled stones at each other and raised slogans, triggering tension in the busy locality.