Sources in the BJP said Shah would come to Kolkata on January 28, Sunday, and hold a meeting with leaders including state president Sukanta Majumdar, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and MP Dilip Ghosh.

On January 29, the Union home minister is scheduled to hold a party workers’ meeting at Mecheda in Purba Medinipur district. Later in the day, he is scheduled to attend an “intellectuals’ meet” at the Science City Auditorium in Kolkata.

“Amit Shah-ji is likely to monitor the BJP’s poll preparation in West Bengal. He is likely to formulate poll strategies for the party,” said a senior BJP leader.

This will be his first visit to the state after the Ram temple consecration ceremony in Ayodhya.

In November last year, Shah addressed a public meeting in Kolkata where he accused the Mamata Banerjee government of rampant corruption, violence and a deteriorating law and order situation.

Last month, Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda together visited Bengal and held a series of meetings with party functionaries.

With the elections round the corner, Shah’s visit assumes significance as the party has set a high target of winning 35 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP won 18 out of the 42 seats in the state. Since then, former Union minister Babul Supriyo and MP Arjun Singh have defected to the ruling Trinamool Congress.