Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee on Monday said the seven-phase polling announce for West Bengal was “a BJP game plan to disturb the State”.

“What is the logic in holding just two elections in the same area the same day? But I am happy — our workload will be less. Politically, we are not bothered with seven phases, but it must be remembered that voters will be inconvenienced. The weather will also not be favourable for such a long-drawn-out election ... there is heat, there is Nor'westers. These will inconvenience voters,” Ms. Banerjee said.

Following Tuesday’s core committee meeting, the “names of the candidates will be announced,” Ms. Banerjee said.

Senior party leader Subrata Mukherjee said “the party may finalise the manifesto, too, on Tuesday”.

Ms. Banerjee said the BJP was “planning another air strike” in April, going by the information received by her. “Journalists have told me [and] this is not my input that they [BJP] are planning another strike in April,” she said.