Kolkata, 08 May (H.S.) : Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the Dakshineswar Kali Temple and offered prayers shortly after arriving in Kolkata on Friday for a crucial political visit following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s landmark victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections.

Shah, appointed as the BJP’s central observer for the legislature party meeting, landed at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at around 11:10 am. He was received by state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya along with senior party leaders Suvendu Adhikari, Dilip Ghosh, Rahul Sinha and Sukanta Majumdar.

After offering prayers at the temple, Shah proceeded to a hotel in New Town, where he is scheduled to stay during his two-day visit to the city.

Later in the day, Shah will attend the BJP legislature party meeting at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in New Town. All 207 newly elected BJP legislators are expected to participate in the meeting.

The BJP legislature party is likely to elect its leader in the presence of Shah and Mohan Charan Majhi, who has been appointed as the party’s central co-observer. The elected leader is expected to become West Bengal’s first BJP chief minister.

On Saturday, Shah is scheduled to attend the swearing-in ceremony at the Brigade Parade Ground along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Nitin Nabin and chief ministers from NDA-ruled states.

The BJP registered a historic victory in the recently concluded Assembly elections, ending the 15-year rule of the Trinamool Congress led by Mamata Banerjee. Meanwhile, Governor RN Ravi dissolved the state Assembly on Thursday, paving the way for the formation of the new government.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh