May 27 (Siliguri Chronicle) – The BJP is gearing up to kick off its election campaign in Bengal later this month, starting with a rally by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Alipurduar on May 29. This will be followed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s meeting with party leaders in Calcutta on June 1.
A BJP insider said the back-to-back visits by the party’s top two leaders highlight the political importance the BJP is placing on Bengal, which heads to Assembly elections next year.
“Modiji will address the rally in Alipurduar, a region close to the international borders with Bangladesh and China on the eastern front, after he visits Rajasthan on the western front. While Modiji will focus on national pride and the success of Operation Sindoor — sending a strong message to the people in bordering districts — Amit Shahji will take charge of organisational matters within three days. Although the elections will be held next year, the party wants to begin its preparations quite early this time,” said a senior state BJP leader.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Bikaner in Rajasthan on May 22 and is currently touring his home state, Gujarat.
A BJP source said the choice of Alipurduar for Modi’s upcoming rally is strategically important, given its proximity to the Bangladesh border—just 55km away. Along with addressing the public, Modi is also expected to announce a series of development projects for north Bengal, a region seen as a BJP stronghold since the 2019 general election.
“The Hasimara Air Force Station is barely 40km from where Modiji will address the rally. He is likely to send a strong message regarding the infiltration of terrorists from neighbouring regions. After Operation Sindoor, which has been praised across the country, his visit holds major significance, and we are eager to hear his speech,” said another BJP leader.
As per the schedule, Prime Minister Modi will travel to Alipurduar from Sikkim on the afternoon of May 29, after attending a government event there. He will lay the foundation stone for several development projects before addressing the public at the Alipurduar Parade Ground, wrapping up his one-day visit to the two eastern states.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to arrive in Calcutta on the night of May 31. A party source said Shah, a former BJP national president, will focus on reviewing the party’s organisational setup in Bengal.
While the final venue is yet to be confirmed, a senior leader said the party is looking to hold Shah’s meeting at the Science City Auditorium.
“There will be around 2,500 party leaders, including mandal (block-level) presidents. Amit Shahji will address the newly elected mandal and district presidents from across Bengal,” said a BJP source.
The source added that Shah is also expected to hold separate meetings with key state leaders, including Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, and the party’s general secretaries.
Shah was originally scheduled to attend an event with around 3,000 farmers associated with cooperative societies. However, the programme has been called off due to a forecast of bad weather.
Several BJP leaders said they were keen to hear Shah’s guidance on preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections. Ahead of the 2021 polls, it was Shah who had set an ambitious target of 200 seats for the BJP in Bengal. The party eventually won 77 seats—now down to 65.
The BJP leadership believes the political landscape in Bengal has shifted notably, especially following recent developments in Bangladesh and the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, which they say have led to a consolidation of Hindu votes.
“The party’s strategy for next year’s Assembly polls will be entirely different. We believe that even a minor shift of Hindu voters to the BJP could change the election outcome in the party’s favour,” said a BJP leader.
