In an apparent bid to utilise the Narendra Modi wave in the upcoming Bengal Assembly elections and tone up the morale of the party cadres the BJP is planning to organise at least 10 rallies in the State to be addressed by the Prime Minister, sources said.
State leaders, including BJP Central observer for Bengal Kailash Bijavargiya, is in touch with party president Amit Shah, sources said, adding that the Prime Minister’s rallies would begin sometime next month after the board examinations are over.
The State elections are likely to be held in the month of April-May and the dates would be announced after the general Budget.
The party has divided the State into seven zones and the Prime Minister’s rallies would be organised in each zone in such a way that maximum area comes under his electoral meeting. Apart from this some other central leaders who have a good understanding and acceptance in Bengal politics will also be roped in for election campaigns, sources said.
With Modi wave at its peak the BJP had garnered more than 16 per cent vote in 2014 General elections leaving the Congress behind as the third largest party in the State. It won two lok Sabha seats and equaled the left Front’s tally.
However, things have not been that impressive for the saffron outfit post 2014 even as it lost about 7 per cent vote share which drastically came down to 10 per cent in the Statewide civic elections. It is another matter however that the BJP leadership attributed the loss of votes to unprecedented violence and booth-capturing by the ruling Trinamool Congress which even polled more than 100 per cent votes in many booths.