New Delhi, 05 April (H.S.):

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) campaign for the West Bengal Assembly elections 2026 with a high-profile rally at Cooch Behar's Raas Mela Ground this afternoon, around 3 pm, signaling an aggressive push to reclaim North Bengal strongholds ahead of the April 23 first-phase polls.

Strategic North Bengal Focus

This will mark Modi's fourth address at the iconic venue, previously utilized during the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha campaigns as well as the 2021 state elections, underscoring its electoral significance. Party leaders frame the event as the Bijoy Sankalpa Sabha, aimed at transitioning the state from bhoy (fear) to bhorosa (trust), spotlighting governance lapses, syndicate influence, and the BJP's manifesto commitments to security and development.

Today's itinerary will emphasize consolidating support in North Bengal, where BJP secured 30 of 54 assembly seats in 2021 and six of eight Lok Sabha seats in 2024, despite setbacks like the Cooch Behar parliamentary loss. Recent infrastructure boosts, including the ₹1,010-crore city gas distribution project spanning Cooch Behar and Alipurduar—whose foundation Modi laid in 2025—will feature prominently to highlight tangible progress.

Packed Campaign Schedule

Beyond today's launch, PM Modi will hold public meetings on April 9 in Suri (Birbhum) and Asansol (Paschim Bardhaman), followed by addresses on April 11 across Krishnanagar, Jangipur, Uttar Dinajpur, and Dakshin Dinajpur. On April 12, a Siliguri roadshow and rally will cap the initial blitz, covering eight key locations in four days to energize cadres with just weeks until the two-phase polls conclude on April 29, with results on May 4. This intensified outreach will follow Home Minister Amit Shah's manifesto release, positioning BJP for a decisive mandate against the ruling Trinamool Congress.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar