Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a key political rally at the industrial township of Durgapur in the West Burdwan district of West Bengal on Friday afternoon.
The scheduled rally is gaining extra political significance for multiple reasons.
The BJP is holding the meeting just three days before the Trinamool Congress’ annual Martyrs’ Day rally in Kolkata on July 21. It also comes just two days after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led a protest march on July 16.
The protest was against the alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking people in BJP-ruled states.
The PM’s rally is positioned between the two events of the Trinamool Congress.
First on July 16, and the next one on July 21.
Political experts note it will be interesting to see how Modi balances criticising the state government while addressing Trinamool’s claims about Bengali-speaking communities in BJP-ruled Odisha, Assam, and Delhi.
Why the Durgapur Rally Matters?
The Prime Minister will outline the BJP’s campaign strategy for the West Bengal Assembly elections during his rally.
The Prime Minister’s speech at Durgapur on Friday will guide the state BJP unit on its campaign approach. It will indicate whether to stick to the ‘hardline Hindutva agenda’ alone or also emphasise ‘inclusive socio-economic development’ for the people of the state.
Simultaneously, state BJP leaders are waiting to see how the Prime Minister will respond on Friday to the Trinamool Congress’s accusation that the Election Commission of India’s Intensive Review is a veiled attempt to impose the National Register of Citizens in West Bengal.
Another crucial factor is the decision to hold the Prime Minister’s political rally in Durgapur.
Moreover, a state committee member of the BJP said that PM Modi’s address at Durgapur will cover the two vital Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal, specifically Bardhaman-Durgapur and Asansol.
“Although we were defeated by narrow margins in 2024, our candidates got elected from there in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. So in that sense, both these Lok Sabha constituencies and the Assembly constituencies comprising them are extremely crucial for us, considering there is a huge Hindi-speaking Hindu population in this pocket. So Durgapur is the ideal choice for a venue from that perspective,” the state committee member said.
The BJP chose Durgapur for its logistical advantages and its proximity to the Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport in Andal.
Rally’s Schedule
According to the current schedule, PM Modi will arrive at Andal Airport around 2:35 PM. He will then reach the venue by around 3 PM.
The venue has two separate stages: one for his administrative programme and the other for his political activities.
The administrative event has been scheduled between 3:00 PM and 3:30 PM.
Moreover, the political programme will be between 3:45 PM to 4:15 PM
After concluding the meeting, PM Modi will board his return flight from Andal to Delhi at 5 PM.
Also Read: PM Modi To Unveil ₹12,200 Crore Development Projects In Bihar & West Bengal
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