PM Modi, Amit Shah In Bengal, Sisir Adhikari May Join BJP Today

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who injured her foot in Nandigram, has shown no signs of slowing down.

Politically, it's a double-barrel Sunday in Bengal today - both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be in the state campaigning for BJP. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will address three separate rallies herself. The show-stealer, though, could be an 80-year-old Trinamool veteran likely to join the BJP even as the opposition party releases its poll manifesto. Keeping up the pressure on the ruling dispensation, the BJP is once again parading its big guns in the state. Over the past year, it has poured considerable time and resource into Bengal,where it sees a strong opportunity to replace Ms Banerjee's Trinamool government in the upcoming election. The party is evaluating its strategy following statewide rebellion in its ranks over its candidate list over the past week. At least three late night meetings have been held by its top brass in Kolkata and Delhi to address the fallout. PM Modi was in Bengal just yesterday where, at a rally in Kharagpur, he attacked both Mamata Banerjee and nephew Abhishek Banerjee. Reportedly scheduled to hold 20  rallies through  the poll run-up, he will today address a gathering at Bankura. Mr Shah will attend one at Egra shortly after noon and then hold a workers meeting at Mecheda, both in East Midnapore district, the reputed stronghold of Trinamool rebel Suvendu Adhikari.