By IANS,
Kolkata : The canvassing for the West Bengal assembly elections is set to reach a high with national political heavyweights hitting the campaign trail across the state by next week.
While Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is scheduled to address a rally in Kolkata to drum up support for candidates of his Congress party as also alliance partner Trinamool Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party has roped in leaders like former deputy prime minister L.K. Advani.
Manmohan Singh is likely to attend the rally tentatively scheduled for April 20 alongside Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, Trinamool sources said.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi will also campaign in the northern West Bengal districts, which go to the hustings April 18. “She may come on April 14-15 and hold meetings in districts like North Dinajpur and Malda,” party leaders said.
The Congress campaign managers are also drawing up an electioneering programme for party general secretary Rahul Gandhi.
BJP state president Rahul Sinha said Advani would hold meetings in various parts of the state in three rounds. The BJP’s leader in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley will also campaign extensively.
Another star campaigner will be Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modri, while yesteryear’s Bollywood beauty Hema Malini will add a touch of glamour, Sinha said.
West Bengal will have a staggered six-phase polls for the 294-member assembly between April 18 and May 10. A total of 54 constituencies spread over six North Bengal districts will vote in the first phase. Counting is due on May 13.