Amit Shah on 2-day visit to West Bengal

Buoyed by its vote swell in West Bengal in Lok Sabha polls, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah on Saturday embarked on a two-day visit to the state in his bid to strengthen the party base and consolidate the gains to project it as an alternative to Left and Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Shah, who is visiting the state for the first time after taking charge as BJP chief, would be meeting the office- bearers to discuss the present situation in the wake of alleged repeated attacks on BJP workers. He will also address the West Bengal BJP unit meet which started its two-day brain storming session on Saturday to chalk out strategy to counter the TMC.

The BJP president will start his day on Sunday in Kolkata by seeking the blessings of Goddess Kali and then hold a meeting of the state executive.

He is expected to discuss strategy to help BJP make electoral gains in the state with special emphasis on the need for strengthening the party at the village level, sources said. Shah will also address a public rally in Bow Bazaar. Though it won only two Lok seats in West Bengal, the BJP's vote share swelled to 16.8 per cent in the state in the last Parliamentary polls.

During his recent visit to Kerala, Shah had made clear that West Bengal was on his radar where he hopes BJP will emerge as viable option for voters in the state polity.