BJP's poll campaign blitzkrieg in Bengal

Party plans to conduct 800 rallies in state to oust TMC in Assly polls

With a determination to unseat Mamata Banerjee's Trinamul Congress (TMC) from power, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has drawn up a list of 800 rallies in West Bengal in the Assembly elections that kicked off on Tuesday with the nominations opened for the first phase.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address 20 rallies, the first on March 7 on the Brigand Ground in Kolkata. This will be his first rally after the elections were announced. The party sources said there may be more rallies by the PM if the situation warrants. He would focus in north and middle Bengal where the party had fared well, as also in the southern parts which are the stronghold of TMC.

The Prime Minister is to also hold at least six public meetings in Assam where the BJP is confident of victory for the second term. Assam is having a 3-phased election. Both Bengal and Assam will have the first round of polling on March 27.

Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda has lined up 50 rallies each in West Bengal that goes to 8phase polls for its 294 seats.

Chief ministers of the BJPruled states, former chief ministers, all key central ministers and a number of the party MPs will be campaigning in the state. Most of them will be present at the party's grand rally of the Prime Minister on Sunday.