Actor Mithun Chakraborty likely to share stage with PM Modi in Kolkata

KOLKATA: Amid speculations of Mithun Chakraborty joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the actor will today attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally at Brigade Parade ground in Kolkata, informed BJP's state in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya.

Although PM Modi has visited the state several times in the past few months, this will be the PM's first visit to the state after the announcement of the assembly polls schedule.

Reports suggest huge preparations are being carried out at the Parade Ground ahead of the PM's visit. Various folk artists and famous personalities are expected to grace the occasion.

Earlier there have been speculations of Chakraborty joining the BJP, especially after he met the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat recently, however, Vijayvargiya has said nothing has been discussed regarding this, according to reports.

Even though Vijayvargiya has not confirmed of Chakraborty joining the BJP, the saffron party has been in talks with the actor.

Once a TMC Rajya Sabha MP, Chakraborty has stayed away from active politics since resigning from the Parliament in 2016.

The BJP recently announced the names of 57 candidates for the polls just two days after the ruling Trinamool Congress announced its own 291 candidates, leaving three for its ally Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.

West Bengal will witness a triangular contest this time with TMC, Congress-Left alliance and BJP in the fray. While TMV supremo Mamata Banerjee seeks to retain power in the upcoming elections, BJP is leaving no stone unturned to oust the TMC. On the other hand, Congress-Left Front-Indian Secular Front of the Muslim cleric Abbas Siddiqui has joined hands to challenge the TMC as well as the BJP.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced an eight-phase election schedule for the 294-seat West Bengal Assembly starting from March 27 and going on till April 29.

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