The BJP has plans to bring around two lakh people to the public meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Kawakhali in Siliguri on Saturday to drive home the point that its support base in the region, where the party won seven of eight Lok Sabha seats in 2019, remains intact.

To ensure that the target is achieved without any glitches, BJP functionaries started mobilising workers and local leaders at the block and panchayat levels, particularly in the districts of Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar, from Friday morning.

“We are expecting a turnout of around two lakh people at the Prime Minister’s meeting. Our leaders are working in tandem to arrange vehicles for supporters and common people, who will reach the Kawakhali ground tomorrow afternoon. Prominent leaders of our party, along with elected representatives, will be present at the meeting,” said Raju Bista, the BJP MP of Darjeeling.

Party leaders based in Siliguri said they had planned to bring around 50,000 people from across the subdivision and from the neighbouring Chopra block which is a
part of Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat.

“There are 28 mandals in the Siliguri organisational district and each mandal will bring people in 10 vehicles which have been provided to them. An equal number of people will be brought from Jalpaiguri district,” said a BJP functionary in Siliguri.

In Jalpaiguri, the leaders, however, mentioned that they are finding it tough to arrange adequate vehicles. “This is because Trinamul supporters have hired buses and have left for Calcutta (for the March 10 meeting). We have asked
our leaders to arrange smaller vehicles and send supporters in smaller groups,” said a leader.

While bringing people to the venue, the BJP is also trying to ensure that there is adequate representation of different communities, that is, tribals, Gorkha, Rajbanshis and Matuas, at the meeting.

“People will also descend from the hills and the tea gardens and Rajbanshi belts, hundreds of people will be there at Kawakhali,” the leader added.

From Cooch Behar and Alipurduar, another 12,000 people will attend the meeting, said district leaders.

“However, from Malda and the two Dinajpurs, only some leaders will be there. There are indications that the Prime Minister will be in the state again ahead of the polls and will campaign in some other parts of north Bengal. At that time, supporters from these districts will attend the meeting,” said a source.

Bista, who is also a national spokesperson of the saffron party, said people are eager to hear Modi.

“Ahead of the meeting, the Prime Minister will also formally inaugurate infrastructural projects, mostly railway and road projects carried out in north Bengal, worth Rs. 4,500 crores, at a government function,” he said.