PM Modi to launch Lok Sabha poll campaign in Mamata turf Bengal amid Sandeshkhali row

Lok Sabha elections: Out of 42 seats in Bengal, the BJP had won 18 seats while the TMC had bagged 22 in 2019.

Updated on: Mar 1, 2024, 04:35:51 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will kickstart the Bharatiya Janata Party's Lok Sabha campaign in Mamata Banerjee-ruled West Bengal from Friday. He will be on a two-day visit to the state, crucial to his plans for a third straight term in office.

The prime minister's visit to West Bengal comes amid the ongoing unrest in Sandeshkhali, a village in North 24 Parganas, where several women have levelled serious allegations of sexual assault against the now arrested local Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan.

According to a statement released by Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Modi will lay the foundation stone of development projects worth ₹7,200 crore in Hooghly's Arambagh. On Saturday, he will reach Krishnanagar in Nadia district where he will inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of development projects worth ₹15,000 crore.

A file photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. (File Photo / PTI)

Also read: Mamata Banerjee's latest ‘BJP’ warning on Lok Sabha elections: ‘LPG cylinder price to be ₹2000 if...’

"Lakhs of people will be present in the rally," BJP's Bengal chief Sukant Majumdar told ANI.

ALSO READ: Anurag Thakur's ‘jungle raaj’ jibe at Mamata on Sandeshkhali row

Out of 42 seats, the BJP had won 18 seats while the TMC had bagged 22 in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Last Saturday, the party had held several rounds of meetings with state leaders for the upcoming general elections.

"The law-and-order situation in Bengal, particularly, violence against the cadre and the appeasement politics of Mamata Bannerjee were discussed,” a leader told HT.

Last year, Union home minister Amit Shah had set a target of 35 seats for the BJP in Bengal. “Complete that beginning in 2024. Give BJP more than 35 seats and make Narendra Modi the Prime Minister once again. The only way to end the rule of lawlessness by Mamata Banerjee and her nephew is to usher in a BJP government," Shah had said at a rally in Birbhum last year, referring to his party's performance of 77 seats in the assembly elections in 2021.

The BJP has been relentlessly attacking the TMC over Shahjahan who is now in 10-day police custody. "This isn’t an arrest, it’s a mutual adjustment," said state Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, in Sandeshkhali.

(With PTI, ANI inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Follow India news real-time updates and the latest news covered on Hindustan Times, featuring today's critical updates on Sonam Wangchuk LIVE and more across India.