“Many people ask me why I entered politics at this age. My answer is — I worked on many projects for the country. At this age too, I have enough energy to work & I want to use it for the development of Kerala. That’s why I joined BJP,’ he said.

“I am ready to take up whatever responsibility that will be given to me and I am honoured that I have been given the opportunity to join BJP,” addressing the flip-flop over his candidature for the post of chief minister in the state.

Earlier in the day, he launched his party’s campaign for the April 6 Lok Sabha bypoll in Kanyakumari and exuded confidence that the party would not only win but that the NDA in Tamil Nadu would emerge victorious in the Assembly elections too next month. The BJP is part of the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Tamil Nadu and the party is contesting the April 6 bypoll to the Kanyakumari parliamentary segment as part of its seat-sharing agreement with the Dravidian party.

Single-phase polls to 234 assembly seats in the state are also scheduled on April 6, with arch-rival AIADMK and DMK led combines keen to ensure victory for the respective alliances. Launching his “Vetri Kodi Eandhi Tamizhagam Velvom” (Will Win Tamil Nadu Carrying the flag of victory) campaign from Suseendiram in this district, Shah said he was confident that a coalition government of the NDA will come to power in the state after the April 6 assembly polls.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hit the road running as they sparred over development while trying to woo voters for the upcoming assembly elections in the state.

While Modi hit out at the Mamata government for failing the people of the state, Mamata questioned the Centre’s policies over the recent fuel price hike.

“They made promises to work for ‘Maa, maati, manush’. But you tell me, has TMC been able to bring change in the lives of common people here in the last 10 years?,” PM Modi said while addressing a rally at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground.

The West Bengal chief minister spoke to supporters following a padyatra in Siliguri. “BJP doesn’t come here for work or development, they only come for their own promotion. But before promotion, they should answer why the price of LPG petrol and diesel are rising,” she said, adding that “they say they’ll make West Bengal sonar Bangla, they’re not even capable of doing any development work in the Centre.”

“For the BJP, before elections it is ujala and post-elections it is only,” she quipped.

“This Brigade Parade Ground has been witness to many great leaders and also witnessed those who have disrupted West Bengal’s progress. People of Bengal never left their hopes for change,” PM Modi said. He added, “Bengal relied on Mamata didi for change. But Didi and her cadre broke this trust. These people broke the trust of Bengal. These people humiliated Bengal. Here the sisters and daughters were tortured.” PM Modi said in this Assembly election, there are TMC, Left & Congress, and their anti-Bengal attitude on a side, while on the other side, there are people of Bengal.

Earlier, Actor Mithun Chakraborty joined the BJP today and participated in PM Modi’s mega rally at the iconic Brigade Parade ground, ending speculation about his political innings. Chakraborty also met BJP’s Kailash Vijayvargiya last night, with the leader tweeting that he was “floored” by the actor’s patriotism and love for the poor and downtrodden. As party’s strategy, BJP in Bengal (too) has not yet declared their chief ministerial candidate and are contesting one of their toughest battles in the state keeping PM Modi in the front.

In West Bengal, where political leadership was always ‘anti-centre’ since Independence, the BJP is desperate to make inroads to fulfil their vision ‘Purvodaya’ (Rising East) and PM Modi’s mega public meet could be crucial for BJP in gaining momentum for an impressive show ahead during the poll. There is a rumour that cricketer Sourav Ganguly may join BJP in presence of PM Modi. Many times before the media, Sourav maintained that he is not interested in politics and his meetings with some of the heavyweight BJP leaders in recent past are purely apolitical. In the context of Sourav Ganguly joining BJP, West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh had said, “There was no discussion regarding this. I have no idea.” Meanwhile, BJP leaders claimed that they are expecting more than seven lakh supporters in the rally.

Security agencies from the Centre and Kolkata Police have turned the area around Brigade Parade ground into a fortress considering the PM’s security.

The Special Protection Group (SPG) officials in assistance with the Kolkata Police have put up a four-layered security cover in front of the podium from where PM Modi is scheduled to address the gathering.

There will be two more stages for local BJP leaders and another for the media persons. There will be a crowd monitoring and management control room behind the main stage for smooth entry and exit of all the attendees in the meeting. More than 1,500 CCTV cameras were installed in and around the Brigade Parade Ground for security reasons.

There will be restrictions in the normal traffic services in all the major stretches near JL Nehru Road, SN Banerjee Road, Dorina Crossing, Central Avenue, MG Road, Khidirpur, AJC Bose Road, Hastings and Park Street.