BJP president Amit Shah cancels four rallies in West Bengal
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Sources in the state BJP said that Shah was running high temperatures even as he was holding a meeting today at Malda and that he has not fully recovered from swine flu.
Owing to ill health, the BJP national president Amit Shah cut short his Bengal tour as a part of the Lok Sabha election campaign.
Shah was to hold five rallies beginning today at Malda, Birbhum, Jhargram, Nadia and South 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal.
While he attended the meeting today at Malda district, Shah decided to fly back to Delhi owing to ill health.
“I am here in Bengal to sound the bugle for 2019 polls. Country’s future depends on this election and most importantly, Bengal’s future depends on this election. We will dethrone Trinamool Congress from Bengal. Trinamool Congress is stopping BJP from taking out the Rath Yatra. This election will restore faith in democracy in Bengal. This election will bring back the Bengal of Vivekananda, Subhas Chandra Bose, Surya Sen,” he said while launching a blistering attack on the Trinamool Congress.
“President Amit Shah will fly back to Delhi. The four other rallies will be held as per schedule without the president. While I will lead the rally in Jhargram, the rally in Birbhum will be lead by senior leader Smriti Irani,” said Dilip Ghosh, Bengal BJP President.
Sources in the state BJP said that Shah was running high temperatures even as he was holding a meeting today at Malda and that he has not fully recovered from swine flu.
Shah was admitted to the AIIMS hospital in Delhi last week after being detected with swine flu. While he was discharged days later, but sources say that he is yet to recover fully.
Later, senior leaders decided to replace Shah with Smriti Irani at the remaining rallies. On January 24, two rallies will be held at the Nadia and South 24 Parganas district.
This apart, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Brigade rally scheduled to be held on February 8 has also been cancelled.
However, Prime Minister Modi will also be holding three rallies in Bengal this month.
The first rally will be held on January 28 either in Siliguri or in Jalpaiguri, the venue is yet to be decided. The second and third rally will be held in Thakurnagar and Asansol respectively.