BJP to take ‘save democracy’ campaign to 800 places in Bengal, Nabin to attend Kolkata rally on Nov 2

Kolkata, Oct 29 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will launch its ‘save democracy, remove anarchy’ campaign in West Bengal on Saturday as part of the party’s nationwide programme against the Opposition’s anti-SIR protest, with party national president Nitin Nabin scheduled to lead a mega rally in Kolkata on November 2, a senior BJP leader said on Thursday.

Nabin will arrive in Kolkata on November 2 and participate in a grand procession from College Street to Esplanade in central Kolkata. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya, senior party leaders and state ministers are also expected to join the rally.

Following the procession, Nabin is scheduled to hold meetings with state leaders to discuss preparations for the upcoming municipal corporation elections. The discussions are expected to focus on the electoral strategy for Kolkata and Howrah, the selection of candidates and the possible preparation of candidate lists for the two civic polls, according to the BJP leader.

Nabin is expected to return to Delhi on the night of November 2 or the following morning.

The BJP’s campaign comes amid the ongoing movement launched by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which has been demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Opposition parties belonging to the INDIA bloc have also joined the movement.

The BJP believes the Opposition may continue such protests to put pressure on the central government in the run-up to the next Lok Sabha elections. The party has planned the statewide programme to counter the Opposition’s campaign and mobilise its supporters, the leader said.

BJP state vice-president Prabal Raha said the programme would be held in Howrah and Siliguri on November 3, Krishnanagar on November 4 and Durgapur on November 5.

“The campaign’s second phase will begin on November 11, after Kali Puja and Diwali. The party plans to organise marches at 800 locations, with at least 10,000 participants expected to take part, he added. The BJP also plans to bring nationalists from across the country together in support of the programme,” Raha said.

Nabin last visited West Bengal towards the end of September, when he held a series of engagements over two days, including meetings with the state leadership.

During his November 2 visit, the BJP president is expected to hold another round of discussions with senior state leaders on the party’s preparations for the upcoming elections. Detailed deliberations are likely on campaign strategy, candidate selection and the electoral prospects of the Kolkata and Howrah municipal corporations.

The meetings are also expected to examine possible candidates for the two civic bodies, the BJP leader said.

–IANS

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