BJP leaders make beeline for Durga Puja in Bengal

With the aim to reach out to people during Durga Puja ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP's central leadership is making a beeline to West Bengal, with its national president JP Nadda likely coming to Kolkata on Saturday, followed by Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Smriti Irani.

"Nadda will participate in three pujas in Bengal, including Howrah and Salt Lake, and will visit the state on Saturday (which is Saptami)," Leader of Opposition (LoP) in state assembly Suvendu Adhikari told ET. Durga Puja in Howrah is known to be patronised by senior BJP leader Sanjay Singh.

Nadda's visit will be followed by Union minister for women and child welfare Smriti Irani and education minister Dharmendra Pradhan who are reaching Bengal this weekend during the festive season. On Monday, Union home minister Amit Shah also visited Kolkata and inaugurated a Durga Puja pandal.