Amit Shah to visit West Bengal on Nov 5-6, discuss 2021 assembly poll strategy

In a fillip to West Bengal unit of BJP ahe of 2021 assembly elections, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be on a two-day visit to state from vember 5 to take stock of party's organisational matters, sources said.

In a late-night development on Friday, West Bengal BJP general secretary Sayantan Basu said scheduled visit of its national president J P Nda from vember 6 stood cancelled.

"J P Nda Ji's visit stands cancelled as of w. It has been decided that Amit Shah ji will be in West Bengal on a two-day visit from vember 5.

"He is likely to visit Medinipur organisational district on vember 5 and on next day he will meet party leers in state. schedule has t been finalised as of w," Basu said.

After ongoing Bihar Assembly elections, electoral battle lines will be drawn in West Bengal, where polls are likely to be held in April-May next year.

Shah will look into various organisational aspects and discuss party's strategy for upcoming assembly elections, BJP national general secretary and in-charge of Bengal, Kailash Vijayvargiya, said.

"It will be more or less indoor programmes. re are chances that he might dress a press conference in Kolkata," he said.

During visit, Shah, along with senior party leers such as Vijayvargiya, vice-president Mukul Roy and state president Dilip Ghosh, will interact with both and district-level leers, sources said.

Although Shah h dressed a virtual rally for West Bengal earlier this year, this will be his first visit to state after coronavirus-induced lockdown. He h last visited West Bengal on March 1.

home minister's visit next week assumes immense significance as West Bengal Goverr Jagdeep Dhankhar has been criticising "worsening" law and order situation in state.

State BJP leers have also been demanding imposition of President's Rule, citing "breakdown of rule of law".

Dhankhar h on Thursday met Shah in New Delhi and discussed "state of affairs" in West Bengal.

On organisational front, Shah's visit comes just days after party's state unit witnessed a major organisational change, as incumbent state general secretary (organisation) Subrata Chattophyay was removed and his deputy Amitava Chakraborty was elevated to post by central leership.

After having a limited presence in politically polarised state for deces, BJP emerged as main rival to ruling Trinamool Congress, winning 18 of 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal in 2019 general elections.

With BJP's strength increasing manifold in state in last few years, where it has never been in power, party leers have exuded confidence that it will end Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's 10-year rule in assembly elections.

(Im: PTI)