JP Nadda to kickoff Rath Yatra in Kolkata today

Ahead of the launch of the ‘Parivartan Yatra’, BJP national president JP Nadda arrived on Kolkata on Friday last night. The Yatra is launched in order to mobilise public support ahead of the assembly election.

Party vice-president Mukul Roy and general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya received JP Nadda at the airport. Nadda is set to launch the ‘Parivartan Yatra’ today from Nabadwip in Nadia district, the birthplace of 15th century saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Union Home Minister, Amit Shah is also likely to inaugurate two of the five proposed yatras later this month.

Earlier for the yatra, the party has asked for permission from the State secretariat at Nabanna and also sent a letter to the States’s chief secretary.

Nadda will first visit Malda in the morning to take part in the roadshow and other two programmes in the district. And in the afternoon he will launch the rath yatra named as ‘Parivartan Yatra’, the source said.

Various senior BJP leaders are also set to visit West Bengal during the month long campaign starting from Nadia today.

Meanwhile, PIL has been filed against the party in the Calcutta High Court regarding concerns over Covid 19 and law and order situation in the State. But the party general secretary, Kailash Vijayvargiya said to the reports that the court has not issued any stay orders on the yatra and hence the district administration cannot stop it. He further said that permission has been sought earlier and if denied then they may proceed to the court.

Elections can be held March-April this year and the poll dates can be announced anytime in February,said the officials in the poll panel.

By Swarnali Chakraborty