Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to hold two road shows in Calcutta to cover four Lok Sabha constituencies in the city and its outskirts ahead of the last phase of polls on June 1.

The plan, which has been put forward by the state BJP to the party’s central leadership, assumes significance as Modi never held a road show in Bengal ahead of polls.

“The proposal has already been put forward and the Prime Minister did not reject it initially. So, in all likelihood the city could witness twin road shows of the Prime Minister ahead of the last phase of polls,” said a state BJP leader.

According to the initial plan, the first road show could be held in the northern part of the city covering Dum Dum and Calcutta (North) Lok Sabha constituencies. The second road show has been planned in a way that would cover Jadavpur and Calcutta (South) Lok Sabha constituencies. There could be a gap of three to four days between the two road shows.

“The detailed route map of the road shows would be prepared soon and it would be sent to Delhi for final approval,” said a source in the BJP.

The plan to hold two road shows in Calcutta by the BJP is significant. The party did not plan any road show by their top leaders in the city ahead of the 2021 Assembly polls after home minister Amit Shah’s road show during the 2019 elections. The road show dealt a blow to the BJP after a 200-year-old statue of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was ransacked by an unruly mob at College Street following a clash between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress supporters. Many BJP leaders feel that the ransacking of Vidyasagar’s statue had hurt the Bengali sentiment and led to the BJP’s poor performance in Calcutta and on its outskirts in the last Lok Sabha polls.

“As the party felt that the sentiment of the Bengalis was hurt after the statue of Vidyasagar was broken, the party did not plan any road show ahead of the 2021 Assembly polls… If twin road shows of Narendra Modi are being planned now, this gives a hint that the BJP has got rid of the nightmare of Amit Shah’s road show in 2019,” said a source.

Sources in the BJP said road shows were found to be more impactful than rallies.

“First, a road show attracts people as the Prime Minister would reach their doorstep and they don’t need to visit the meeting place. Second, a road show gives a boost to the morale of the party workers as they are engaged for three-four hours at a stretch. Third, it also sends a message to the electorate that the Prime Minister is giving importance to each vote in the area. These are the reasons why the road shows have been planned,” said a source.

Political experts said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee adopts a similar strategy when she walks on the road before or after a rally.

“The difference is that she does not hold road shows on a car but walks along the roads… This connects the chief minister and the electorate in the area immediately. The BJP is apparently trying to follow the same strategy in the city so that the Prime Minister can connect to the electorate of the city and its outskirts where the party does not have a strong support base,” said an expert.

The BJP has also planned a series of road shows across the state by Shah and party national president J.P. Nadda.