According to officials familiar with the itinerary, Shah is scheduled to land at Kolkata airport around 2 p.m. and travel by Army helicopter to Mayapur in Nadia district. From a temporary helipad, he will proceed by road to key locations within the temple complex, including Shankh Bhavan and Padma Bhavan. He is also expected to attend the 152nd birth anniversary observance of Gaudiya Vaishnav spiritual leader Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur and may participate in a ceremonial aarti at the Sri Krishna temple.
Sources indicated that Shah could hold a closed-door interaction with monks and religious figures during the visit, although no official agenda has been released. The programme comes as national leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party increase their presence in the state in the run-up to elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to address a rally at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground next month, signalling an escalated campaign push.
Political analysts say the timing of Shah’s visit is significant because it coincides with rising campaign activity across northern and southern districts. The party’s central leadership has conducted multiple rallies and strategy meetings in recent weeks, indicating that West Bengal remains a priority battleground.
Local authorities have begun extensive security preparations for the high-profile visit. Police and administrative officials are inspecting sensitive points around the temple town, which is already witnessing increased footfall due to the upcoming Holi festival. Additional deployment of personnel and traffic management measures are expected to be in place before the event.
While the visit is officially described as religious, its political context has drawn attention across party lines. Observers note that temple visits by senior leaders often serve both devotional and outreach purposes, particularly in states approaching elections.
Shah’s tour, though brief, is likely to be closely watched for signals about the party’s strategy and messaging in West Bengal as campaigning gathers pace in the coming weeks.
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