BJP workers and leaders in East Midnapore were disheartened after Union home minister Amit Shah's rally was cancelled at the last minute because of his political engagement about Bihar.

The BJP leadership explained that Shah had to cancel his visit to the state on account of the unforeseen political developments in Bihar. However, it caused major disappointment to the East Midnapore leadership.

“With the elections approaching, the rally by Amit Shah could have served as a morale booster for the party's workers and supporters. We are disheartened. We have a strong chance to win both Lok Sabha constituencies in the district and the rally would have benefited us. We have asked the state leadership to arrange for an alternative rally,” said a general secretary of the BJP's Tamluk organisational district, Deb Kamal Das.

According to party sources, Shah was slated to assess the situation in five Lok Sabha constituencies — Contai, Tamluk, Ghatal, Midnapore, and Jhargram. Contai and Tamluk constituencies are currently held by Suvendu Adhikari's brother, Dibyendu Adhikari, and his father, Sisir Adhikari, respectively, both of whom are still Trinamul Congress MPs on paper.

Although the BJP has done fairly well in the last Assembly elections in the district, their performance in the panchayat polls was not as good. According to available data, out of 222 gram panchayats and 25 panchayat samitis, the saffron camp managed to get 80 gram panchayats and 3 panchayat samitis.

A senior district BJP leader stressed the significance of the two Lok Sabha constituencies, stating, "Tamluk and Contai are a personal challenge for Suvendu, and the party was giving great importance to the rally."