An attempt by Trinamul to hold a bigger rally at the venue that hosted BJP national president Amit Shah on Thursday flopped as the turnout on Sunday looked thinner.
Trinamul's Purulia president and minister Shantiram Mahato said over one lakh people had attended the meeting, but some party insiders said the turnout was around 40,000.
Although the turnout estimates at Shah's meeting varied from 25,000 (according to Trinamul) to 2 lakh (according to the BJP), the rally on Thursday looked bigger as the venue and the surrounding areas were teeming with people.Three senior Trinamul leaders - ministers Subhendu Adhikari, Firhad Hakim and Shashi Panja - were present at the Shimulia Football Grounds in Purulia town on Sunday.