Amid the ongoing turmoil in Sandeeshakli sparked by allegations of sexual harassment against Trinamool Congress strongman Shahjahan Sheikh and his associates by women, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to begin his two-day visit to West Bengal on Friday.

During his two-day visit, the Prime Minister is scheduled to address rallies in Arambagh and Krishnanagar, and inaugurate several development projects in the state.

Also Read: PM Modi to launch multifaceted development projects in Jharkhand, West Bengal

The PM’s visit is likely to set the tone for the BJP’s offensive against the Trinamool Congress and its chief Mamata Banerjee for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. In the general elections held in 2019, the BJP emerged as the primary challenger to the TMC in the state, displacing the Left in the state’s politics that it once dominated. The party also hopes to improve its tally from 18 seats and over 40 per cent vote share in the coming elections.

PM Modi landed in Dhanbad, Jharkhand, to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for projects totalling Rs 35,700 crore, as per officials. Among these projects is the Hindustan Urvarak & Rasayan Ltd’s (HURL) Sindri fertiliser plant, established with an investment exceeding Rs 8,900 crore, aiming to achieve self-sufficiency in the urea sector.

Also Read:TMC suspends Shahjahan Sheikh for six years after arrest

Later in the day, he is scheduled to proceed to Arambagh in West Bengal’s Hooghly district at around 3 pm to inaugurate and lay the foundation for projects amounting to Rs 7,200 crore. This includes the unveiling of Indian Oil’s 518-km Haldia-Barauni crude oil pipeline, developed at an approximate cost of Rs 2,790 crore. Additionally, the Prime Minister will launch significant rail projects and initiatives aimed at fortifying the Kolkata port.

PM Modi’s visit to Bengal, where he plans to stay overnight, coincides with a turbulent period in state politics, especially in the aftermath of recent incidents in Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas district.

Also Read:PM Modi to address women’s rally in Bengal’s Barasat on March 6

According to reports, PM Modi is likely to conduct an additional rally in the first week of March in Barasat, a subdivision located in the North 24 Parganas district, adjacent to Sandeshkhali village where TMC strongman Shahjahan Sheikh and his associates are alleged to have committed atrocities against women.

Sheikh was expelled from the party on Thursday, shortly after his arrest in connection with an attack on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team on January 5. Shahjahan and his associates face accusations of sexual violence and land-grabbing, placing the Mamata Banerjee-led party on the defensive.

Meanwhile, ahead of PM Modi’s visit today, the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) launched an attack on the Centre, questioning when it would heed the heartfelt concerns of MGNREGA beneficiaries in West Bengal.

“Hon’ble PM, when will you listen to Man Ki Baat of our deprived MGNREGA beneficiaries? Despite your govt. stopping funds, Mamata Banerjee-led govt by today will clear dues of all deprived MGNREGA beneficiaries in the State,” AITC statement said.

“Will you suspend CBI-FIR named Suvendu Adhikari today from your party or share the stage with him to prove your ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ to shelter corrupt people?” the statement further added.