The political temperature is set to soar in Bengal ahead of the Assembly elections in the coming weeks as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will address back to back rallies in the state.
Shah is scheduled to address a rally at Namkhana in South 24 Paraganas district on Thursday. BJP sources said that the Home Minister would have lunch at the residence of a refugee family in the district. Shah will arrive in Kolkata late on Wednesday night.
The Prime Minister will address a rally at Sahaganj in Hooghly district on February 22. A war of words between Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely to take place as the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo will hold a rally at the same venue a day after the Prime Minister’s programme.
The state BJP leadership took potshots at the TMC for holding a rally at the same venue where the Prime Minister’s rally would be held.
“The PM’s rally in Hooghly on February 22 was announced long ago. But the TMC’s decision to hold a rally at the same place two days after the Prime Minister’s programme shows that it is rapidly losing ground in the State,” state BJP leader and local MP Locket Chatterjee said.
She alleged that the TMC wanted to utilise the ground and helipad prepared by the BJP workers.
However, TMC district president in Hooghly Dilip Yadav denied that the Chief Minister’s rally was counter to the one to be held by Modi.
“ The party supremo will raise her voice in protest against those trying to spread communalism in the State. We will expose those who spread fake news for political gains,” said Yadav.
As for TMC’s choice of venue he said that there were very few grounds in Hooghly which could accommodate the large gatherings at the Chief Minister’s rallies.