Kolkata, February 17 – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced on Tuesday that it would conduct “Parivartan Rath Yatras” (Change Rallies) across West Bengal as part of its campaign for the upcoming state assembly elections.
Announcing the programme, West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya said that after 34 years of CPI-M rule, people had given the Trinamool Congress a chance to come to power in the state, hoping for a change.
“However, in the last 15 years, democratic rights have been eroded in the state, and corruption has taken on an institutional form. To reach out to the people and convey the message of defeating the Trinamool Congress in the upcoming state assembly elections, these ‘Parivartan Yatras’ will be organized across the state,” Bhattacharya added.
The BJP is planning to organize nine yatras across the state.
The yatras will begin on March 1 from Cooch Behar South, Krishnanagar South, Garbeta, Raidighi, and Kulti, and on March 2 from Islampur, Sandeshkhali, Hasan, and Amta.
The programme will be suspended on March 3 and 4 due to the Dol Yatra and Holi festivals.
From March 5 to 10, the programme will cover a total distance of over 5,000 km, visiting various assembly constituencies in the state.
Approximately 60 large and more than 300 small public meetings are planned as part of the programme.
There will be rallies, processions, and campaigns in each assembly constituency.
It has been reported that the programme will culminate with a public meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata at the end of March.
West Bengal BJP President Bhattacharya has also indicated that several Central BJP leaders may be present at the inaugural stages of the yatras.
He has urged people from all sections of society to participate in this programme.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be visiting West Bengal on Wednesday.
Union Minister Shah is likely to arrive at the Kolkata airport on Wednesday afternoon.
From there, the Union Home Minister will fly by helicopter to Mayapur in the Nadia district, where he is scheduled to participate in several programmes at the ISKCON temple, spending nearly two hours there.
Sources said that Union Home Minister Shah will participate in the 152nd birth anniversary celebrations of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur at the ISKCON in Mayapur.
Union Home Minister Shah will first visit ISKCON's Shankhabhavan, followed by Padmabhavan.
There, the Union Minister may hold a special meeting with Hindu saints and monks.
Later, Amit Shah will attend the 152nd birth anniversary programme of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur.
However, he will not hold any political programmes.
After visiting Mayapur, Union Minister Shah will return to Delhi on Wednesday evening.
