Modi to address multiple rallies in Bengal as BJP steps up campaign
The Statesman | 8 April 2026
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified its campaign, banking heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to galvanise support across the state. Party sources said Mr Modi will arrive in West Bengal later this week for a series of high-voltage public meetings and road shows aimed at consolidating the BJP’s electoral push ahead of Poila Baisakh.
The Prime Minister’s visit is being seen as a crucial component of the party’s strategy to mount an aggressive challenge to the ruling dispensation. According to the BJP’s schedule, Mr Modi is slated to address rallies on 9 April in Haldia, Suri, and Asansol. This will be followed by public meetings on 11 April in Kushmandi, Krishnanagar, and Jangipur. On 12 April, the Prime Minister is expected to hold a road show in Siliguri, besides two proposed road shows in Kolkata.
On 9 May, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is coming to the historic Polo Ground of Asansol for an election campaign. BJP Asansol organisational president Debtanu Bhattacharya, senior leader Krishna Prasad and others inspected the preparedness of the venue.
The BJP leadership believes that projecting Mr Modi prominently will bolster the party’s prospects in its bid to capture power in the state. Party insiders described the Prime Minister’s extensive outreach as “carpet bombing” of campaign messaging, aimed at reaching voters across regions. Senior BJP leaders have also been deployed as part of a broader campaign strategy. Union home minister Amit Shah had earlier accompanied Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari during the filing of nomination papers in Bhawanipore. The party has additionally named a list of around 40 star campaigners, including Rajnath Singh, JP Nadda, Dharmendra Pradhan and Nitin Gadkari.
Sources indicated that Mr Modi is likely to address at least 14 rallies in the state during the election campaign. He had already kicked off his Bengal outreach with a rally in Cooch Behar last Sunday, where he launched a sharp attack on the ruling establishment.
All three sitting MLAs ~ Agnimitra Paul from Asansol South, Dr Ajoy Poddar from Kulti and Lakhsman Ghorui from Durgapur West are working very hard to retain their seats.
Already, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had started campaigning for the party candidates in West Burdwan district.
In West Burdwan, more than three lakh names have been deleted in SIR and Asansol North, Asansol South are worst affected.
For the nine assembly seats in West Burdwan seats which will go on polls on 23 April, 95 candidates have filed nomination papers, including 29 Independent candidates. Yesterday was the last day of filing nomination papers. For the first time in 30 years, the Congress is fighting in all the nine seats.
BJP sources said the party’s manifesto, or ‘Sankalp Patra’, will be released after the nomination process concludes on 9 April, with one constituency still awaiting the announcement of its candidate.