National leaders to campaign in Bengal next week
April 8th, 2011 - 12:11 am ICT by IANS
Kolkata, April 7 (IANS) The canvassing for the West Bengal assembly elections is set to reach a high with national political heavyweights hitting the campaign trail across the state by next week.
While Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is scheduled to address a rally in Kolkata to drum up support for candidates of his Congress party as also alliance partner Trinamool Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party has roped in leaders like former deputy prime minister L.K. Advani.
Manmohan Singh is likely to attend the rally tentatively scheduled for April 20 alongside Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, Trinamool sources said.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi will also campaign in the northern West Bengal districts, which go to the hustings April 18. “She may come on April 14-15 and hold meetings in districts like North Dinajpur and Malda,” party leaders said.
The Congress campaign managers are also drawing up an electioneering programme for party general secretary Rahul Gandhi.
BJP state president Rahul Sinha said Advani would hold meetings in various parts of the state in three rounds. The BJP’s leader in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley will also campaign extensively.
Another star campaigner will be Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modri, while yesteryear’s Bollywood beauty Hema Malini will add a touch of glamour, Sinha said.
West Bengal will have a staggered six-phase polls for the 294-member assembly between April 18 and May 10. A total of 54 constituencies spread over six North Bengal districts will vote in the first phase. Counting is due on May 13.
- Poll campaigning peaks in north Bengal districts - Apr 13, 2011
- Campaign ends for first phase of polling in West Bengal - Apr 16, 2011
- Presiding officer removed for violating poll code - Apr 18, 2011
- Campaign ends for third phase of Bengal polls - Apr 25, 2011
- Congress warns rebels in West Bengal - Apr 18, 2011
- Polling begins in Bengal, proceeds peacefully (Lead) - Apr 18, 2011
- CPI-M says it is not a one-man party - Apr 13, 2011
- BJP's Bengal chief on hunger strike outside poll panel office - Apr 23, 2011
- Bengal polls: Campaigning for fifth phase ends - May 05, 2011
- Sonia alleges misuse of central funds in Bengal - Apr 20, 2011
- CPI-M using police to manipulate voters: Mamata - May 05, 2011
- West Bengal polls enter fifth phase Saturday - May 06, 2011
- Brisk polling in West Bengal, nearly 50 percent turnout till 1 p.m. - Apr 18, 2011
- Polling peaceful in West Bengal first phase (Intro Roundup) - Apr 18, 2011
- Vote out CPI-M, end misrule: Rahul tells Bengal (Lead) - Apr 14, 2011
Tags: arun jaitley, bharatiya janata party, congress campaign, congress party, congress president sonia gandhi, deputy prime minister, hema malini, l k advani, Lok Sabha, mamata banerjee, manmohan singh, north bengal, political heavyweights, prime minister manmohan, prime minister manmohan singh, rahul gandhi, railway minister, rajya sabha, sushma swaraj, west bengal assembly elections