Kolkata, 08 May (H.S.) : The Bharatiya Janata Party is set to elect its legislature party leader on Friday, paving the way for the appointment of West Bengal’s first BJP Chief Minister since Independence, following the party’s sweeping victory in the recently concluded Assembly elections.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Kolkata on Friday to oversee the crucial legislature party meeting where the new leader will be formally chosen.

Shah landed at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at around 11 am and was received by state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya and senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, among other party leaders.

Soon after his arrival, Shah visited the Dakshineswar Kali Temple in North 24 Parganas district and offered prayers before proceeding to New Town for the scheduled party meetings.

The BJP legislature party meeting will be held later in the day at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in New Town, where newly elected BJP MLAs are expected to participate.

During the meeting, the BJP legislature party leader — who will become the next Chief Minister of West Bengal — is expected to be elected in the presence of Amit Shah and other senior party observers.

Following the selection, the newly elected leader is likely to meet Governor RN Ravi at Lok Bhavan to stake claim to form the new government in the state.

The swearing-in ceremony of the new Chief Minister and cabinet is scheduled to take place on Saturday at the Brigade Parade Ground in central Kolkata.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior BJP leaders and chief ministers from BJP-ruled states are expected to attend the ceremony. Extensive security arrangements have already been put in place at the venue ahead of the oath-taking programme scheduled to begin at 10 am.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh