Delhi/Kolkata, April 09 (HS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address three election rallies in West Bengal on Thursday as campaigning intensifies for the two-phase Assembly elections in the state.

According to the schedule, the Prime Minister will first address a rally at Haldia in East Midnapore district, followed by public meetings at Asansol in West Burdwan district and Suri in Birbhum district.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is also scheduled to arrive in Kolkata on Thursday night and will participate in election campaigning on Friday and Saturday.

Shah is scheduled to address a rally at Debra in West Midnapore district on Friday followed by a roadshow at Kharagpur. On Saturday, he will address rallies at Chhatna in Bankura district and Baghmundi in Purulia district.

The Prime Minister is also scheduled to address three rallies on Saturday at Jangipur in Murshidabad district, Katwa in East Burdwan district and Balurghat in South Dinajpur district as part of the party’s campaign.

According to the programme, Modi will stay overnight in Siliguri on April 11 and is scheduled to participate in a roadshow there on April 12. He had earlier launched his campaign in the state with a rally at Cooch Behar on April 5.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is also holding multiple campaign meetings on Thursday at Minakhan, Noyapara, Panihati, Baranagar and Rajarhat-Gopalpur in North 24 Parganas district.

Polling for the two-phase Assembly elections in West Bengal will be held on April 23 and April 29, while counting of votes is scheduled for May 4, officials said.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar