Meeting was scheduled to take place on November 5.
According to the sources from the West Bengal secretariat of Nabanna, the previous meeting scehduled for 5 November was cancelled due to the Union home minister’s other busy schedules.
“Now, Shah’s office has selected December 17 as the tentative date of the meeting,” said source adding that the final confirmation on this count is yet to reach the state secretariat.
If the meeting happens, said a state government official, it will be conducted at the auditorium adjacent to the state secretariat of Nabanna.
As per sources in the state secratariat, the meeting is likely to be attended by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik and Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang.
The state secratariat is also expecting a separate meeting between West Bengal CM and Shah.
Besides, as per the political experts, the meeting and Union home minister’s visit to the state is expected to be crucial on various counts.
“If the meeting happens, it will be extremely crucial before the forthcoming three- tier panchayat elections in the state scheduled next year over which the tension between the ruling Trinamool Congress and opposition BJP is already at its peak,” stated political expert..
It is also to be seen that whether besides his official schedule, Shah meets the state BJP leaders or attends any party function in the state and all eyes will be focused on what message the Union home minister conveys to his party leaders. However, there is no confirmation on anything on this count with the state BJP leaders as yet.
Finally, all eyes will be on whether there will be a separate meeting between Mamata Banerjee and Nitish Kumar in the backdrop of the fact that the latter is emerging as an important opposition face before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
