BJP president Amit Shah with state unit chief, Rahul Sinha and central observer of BJP in West Bengal, Siddharth Nath Singh wave to supporters during the party's rally in Kolkata on Sunday. - PTI
New Delhi: After the resounding success of BJP national president Amit Shah’s rally on Sunday, the party now wants to test the waters in the forthcoming civic polls of West Bengal in May.
Meanwhile, the ruling Trinamul might have tough times ahead as the CBI could possibly close in on party national secretary Mukul Roy.
Transport minister Madan Mitra, who has so far managed to evade CBI dragnet, is out of hospital and is likely to be summoned once again this week.
All together, the state is expected to witness violence in nearly 40 municipalities including sensitive areas like Garden Reach and Metiabruz.
Sensing trouble, the state BJP workers are setting up “booth suraksha committees” to prevent booth capturing and rigging.
And, sources said, the BJP is all set to field a large number of Muslim candidates as six Muslim dominated wards have already been identified.
BJP national secretary and in charge of West Bengal Siddharth Nath Singh said that each ward has been asked to list issues, which have remained unattended over the years.
Of the 141 seats of Kolkata Municipal Corporation, the Trinamul has 95 councillors, CPM has 23 councillors while the Congress and the CPI has 10 and four councillors respectively. The BJP has three councillors.
Electorally, during the Lok Sabha elections the BJP had polled nearly 16 per cent of the votes and won Asansol and Darjeeling seats.
BJP candidate got the second largest number of votes in the Chowringhee Assembly by polls. It was pointed out that the BJP is ahead in nearly 26 wards in Kolkata North constituency.
