Ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, the BJP is looking to hold a month long rath yatra for which the party has written to the West Bengal administration seeking permission. BJP state vice-president Pratap Banerjee has written to West Bengal Chief Secretary Alapan Bandhopadhyay regarding the saffron party’s plan to hold a month long programme in February of five rallies across the state.
Banerjee in his letter has said, “West Bengal State Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to carry out a peaceful political programme throughout West Bengal in the form of ‘yatra’ in the months of February and March 2021.”
“There will be five segments covering all the Assembly constituencies of West Bengal. Each yatra will include a ‘rath’ and will run simultaneously in different segments/territories of the state.” He added.
“The broader purpose of this communication is to appraise you about the gamut of the program so that administration may prepare the modalities of relevant support system for peaceful conduct of the programme. We want to seek an appointment with you.” The letter goes on to say.
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The BJP has held the rath yatra in West Bengal before which has seen senior party leaders take part in the rallies. This time too, senior party leaders are expected to be part of the yatra to reach out to voters across the length and breadth of the state ahead of the high pitched battle with the ruling party to capture the reins of West Bengal. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President JP Nadda have been visiting the state as part of their outreach programme including rallies, roadshows and party organizational meetings.
The plan for the rath yatras are from Nabadwip, Coochbehar, Kakdwip, Jhargram and Tarapith on three dates starting February 6, 8 and 9. In 2018 the TMC government had turned down the request of the saffron party at the last moment to hold the rath yatra. The BJP is awaiting a reply from the government for the permission.