Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to visit West Bengal once again, with his arrival in Kolkata expected on January 30. However, unlike his earlier visits, Shah will not address any public rallies or participate in open political programmes during the tour.
According to sources, the visit will be purely organisational in nature, with a focus on fine-tuning the party’s strategy for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
State BJP leaders have described the visit as crucial, noting that the schedule for the Assembly elections could be announced by the end of February or early March. Ahead of that, Shah is expected to hold a series of meetings aimed at strengthening the party’s organisational structure, identifying weak pockets, and improving coordination among leaders at various levels. Sources indicated that separate meetings with state, district and mandal-level leaders may take place during Shah’s stay in Kolkata.
The timing of the visit is also being seen as strategic. The West Bengal Board’s secondary examinations are set to begin on February 2, during which strict rules are in place across the state, including restrictions on meetings, processions and the use of loudspeakers. Organising large public gatherings during this period often involves administrative hurdles. To avoid such complications, the BJP leadership has reportedly decided to complete Shah’s visit within January.
It is also learnt that Shah may follow a pattern previously adopted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi by visiting North Bengal after concluding organisational meetings.
North Bengal is considered a strategically significant region for the BJP and strengthening the party’s base there is seen as key to altering the political landscape of the state. Within the state BJP, there is an acknowledgement that differences have emerged in recent times between sections of the leadership and the organisational machinery in certain areas. Bridging these gaps before the elections is believed to be one of Shah’s primary objectives.
Key decisions regarding leadership responsibilities, trust within the organisation, and the overall tone and messaging of the election campaign are also expected to take place in the discussions held during the union minister’s visit.
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