BJP WILL AVOID TARGETING MAMATA

The BJP has decided to completely change its strategy for the West Bengal Assembly elections.

- AJIT MAINDOLA

According to sources, the party's Bihar model will now be extended to Bengal, with the RSS providing full organisational support. Instead of directly attacking Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the BJP will push other issues to the forefront. The Citizenship Amendment Act, infiltration and law and order will remain central themes, but personal attacks on Mamata will be avoided.The BJP believes that sharp attacks on Mamata Banerjee during the last Assembly election backfired by generating sympathy for her, which ultimately helped the Trinamool Congress. This time, the party is determined not to repeat that mistake. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is personally monitoring the Bengal campaign. During his visits to the state, he has consistently raised infiltration and local governance issues to corner the TMC. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visits are expected to begin after Makar Sankranti, when he will set the overall political agenda. He may flag off the new Vande Bharat train between Howrah and Guwahati and announce several development projects for Bengal and Assam.