Kolkata, 22 April (H.S.) : Union Home Minister Amit Shah will remain in Kolkata till April 27, the final day of campaigning for the next phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections, according to a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) source on Wednesday.

The second phase of polling in West Bengal is scheduled for April 29, while campaigning will conclude on Monday. Shah will also remain in the state during the first phase of polling on April 23.

Late on Tuesday night, Shah chaired a strategy meeting at the BJP office in New Town to review preparations for the second phase of elections. He held discussions with district presidents, district in-charges and visiting district observers from constituencies going to polls in the next phase.

Leaders in charge of four organisational zones, covering a total of 13 organisational districts, were called to attend the meeting. Senior BJP leaders Bhupender Yadav, Biplab Deb, Sunil Bansal and Amit Malviya were also present.

According to party sources, the meeting began at around 9:45 p.m. on Tuesday and continued till 2:05 a.m. on Wednesday. Shah is said to have conducted a constituency-wise review of every Assembly seat falling under the 13 districts.

The discussions reportedly covered the political situation in each constituency, the influence of minority voters, changes after the special intensive revision process, seats where the BJP is in a strong position and constituencies considered challenging.

Sources said Shah also had his own assessment reports for these areas, but sought direct feedback from leaders handling ground-level responsibilities to gauge the situation more accurately.

A leader present at the meeting, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Shah urged the party organisation to strengthen booth-level structures in every constituency and contest the elections with full force. He also assured state leaders that the central leadership stood firmly behind the Bengal unit.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh