Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and amid the tension in Sandeshkhali, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address a mega rally in West Bengal’s Barasat, the headquarters of the North 24 Paraganas district, on March 7. Sandeshkhali, where tension has been mounting for the last couple of weeks, amid claims of land grab and sexual assault by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders, also falls in the same district.
Officials have confirmed to CNN-News18 that they are working on the two-day visit. More than two lakh women are expected to participate in the rally.
PM Modi is expected to inaugurate Metro line projects on March 6, followed by the rally on March 7.
TIMING OF VISIT CRUCIAL
This visit comes at a very important time when the state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) are in a major battle over atrocities against women in the state. Several delegations of the Supreme Court (SC) panel and National Commission for Women (NCW) have expressed deep concern about the situation in the region where women have been subjected to torture and threats at the hands of the TMC leaders. These delegations have made recommendations to impose President’s rule in the state.
Glaring facts that have come to the fore during visits of multiple leaders in Sandeshkhali were even mentioned during the recent BJP national convention. Senior leaders and Union ministers, including Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah, made a mention of the issue during their address in the convention.
MODI’s SUPPORT FOR WOMEN
PM Modi is expected to send a strong message of support for the women of the state who have been at the receiving end of the TMC administration. During his address, he is expected to make a mention of several cases, including that of Sandeshkhali. It is also being anticipated that some victims of the violence in the region could also participate in the rally.
The last visit by the Prime Minister to the state of Bengal was more than a year ago.
AMIT SHAH IN STATE ON FEB 29
Just ahead of the visit of the PM, will be another high-profile visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to the state. On February 29, Shah is expected to attended an ISKCON Temple event in Mayapur. He is also expected to hold a number of organisation meetings during his day-long visit.
POLL POSITION
The BJP is geared up for the upcoming elections for Parliament. In the state, it is expected to be an intense battle between the BJP, principal opponent, and TMC. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the saffron party stunned all by winning 18 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats, from 2 in 2014. Since the last election, two of its sitting MPs have jumped shipped to the TMC — Barakpur Member of Parliament (MP) Arjun Singh and former Union minister Babul Supriyo. Supriyo later went on to win the state by-election to become a minister in the Banerjee government in the state. His Parliamentary election was won by actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha from Asansol.
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