Mamata vs Amit Shah in Bengal LIVE Updates: Only Some Distance Between Rallies, Head-to-Head Battle to Play Out Today; Minister Hurt in Bomb Attack Stable

Amit Shah is scheduled to arrive in Bengal tonight on a two-day visit starting from today. He is scheduled to visit Kakdwip area near Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas district, where he will flag off the final leg of the five phases Parivartan Yatra of the BJP in the state. "He will arrive in Kolkata tonight. On Thursday he will visit Kapil Muni Ashram. From there he will go to Namkhana where he will address Poribartan Yatra," a senior state BJP leader said Wednesday. Shah is also scheduled to have lunch at the residence of a migrant labourer and later take part in a roadshow, he said.

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said that he was anguished to learn about the deplorable attack on Shivaji Singha Roy, BJP's North Kolkata District President. "He was attacked by Trinamool Congress soon after Mega Public Rally. Pained to see pictures of him in Hospital and praying for his swift recovery," he said in a tweet.

Anguished to learn about the deplorable attack on Shri Shivaji Singha Roy, the @BJP4Bengal North #Kolkata District President.

He was attacked by @AITCofficial goons soon after today's #MegaPublicRally. Pained to see pictures of him in Hospital and praying for his swift recovery. pic.twitter.com/dzgKGza8Gs

— Suvendu Adhikari • শুভেন্দু অধিকারী (@SuvenduWB) February 17, 2021

Mamata and Amit Shah to Address Rallies in Same District Today | A head-to-head political battle will play out on Thursday in Kolkata's neighbouring South 24 Parganas district where Home Minister Amit Shah and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee are scheduled to address rallies separated by some distance. It is for the first time in the run up to the assembly elections that Banerjee and Shah will be holding rallies in the same district and more or less at the same time in the afternoon.

West Bengal minister Jakir Hossain was seriously injured after unidentified attackers hurled a crude bomb at him in Nimtita railway station in Murshidabad district on Wednesday night, police said. At least two other persons, who were with the Trinamool Congress MLA of Jangipur, were also injured in the incident which occurred ahead of the assembly election in West Bengal due in April-May this year.

#WATCH: WB Minister Jakir Hossain injured after unidentified persons hurled a bomb at him at Nimtita railway station, Murshidabad y'day.

Murshidabad Medical College Superintendent says that he's stable & out of danger, one hand & leg injured.

(Amateur video, source unconfirmed) pic.twitter.com/ih7DLHAWLq

— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2021

On the second day of his visit, i.e. on Friday, Amit Shah will pay tributes to martyrs from the state at the national library in Kolkata and attend a media conclave in the city, the official said. The BJP and ruling Trinamool Congress, headed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, are spearheading intense election campaign in West Bengal with the saffron party deploying its enviable political machinery to capture power in the state which it has never ruled.

Amit Shah to Launch Final Phase of BJP's 'Poriborton Yatra' | On Thursday, the home minister will visit the Bharat Sevashram Sangha at Rash Behari Avenue in Kolkata in the morning followed by a visit to the Kapil Muni Ashram at Gangasagar, an official said. In the afternoon, Shah will launch the 'Poribartan Yatra' from Namkhana and then have lunch with the family at Narayanpur village. He will also take part in a roadshow at Namkhana.

Amit Shah on Two-day Tour of West Bengal from Today | Home Minister Amit Shah will be on a two-day political tour of poll-bound West Bengal from Thursday during which he will launch the fifth and final phase of the BJP's 'Poriborton Yatra' from the South 24 Parganas district and attend several other programmes. Shah is also scheduled to eat lunch with a refugee's family in what appears to be an expression of solidarity with the people promised citizenship by the BJP.

Bengal Minister Jakir Hossain Out of Danger | "West Bengal Labour Minister (MoS) Jakir Hossain is stable and is out of danger. He received injuries in one hand and one leg," Dr Amiya Kumar Bera, Superintendent Murshidabad Medical College said. The Minister has been shifted to Kolkata.

Union Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal condemned the bomb attack at Nimtita Railway Station in West Bengal. "My prayers are for the quick recovery of the injured," Goyal said.

I condemn the dastardly bomb attack at Nimtita Railway Station in West Bengal. My prayers are for the quick recovery of the injured: Union Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal pic.twitter.com/DhqxpIEKvw

— ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2021

According to sources, at least 13 people accompanying the minister were injured in the attack. The minister has reportedly sustained severe injuries on his left limbs and could soon be transferred to Kolkata for further treatment, said sources. Among the TMC workers who are injured, some may even need amputation, said a doctor on condition of anonymity.

Jakir Hossain, the minister of state for labour, was reportedly waiting at platform no 2 of the station to catch a train to Kolkata at around 10 pm when he was attacked. The MLA of Jangipur in Murshidabad district and a few other injured persons were rushed to the Jangipur Superspeciality Hospital from where Hossain was referred to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital. After initial treatment, he was shifted to a Kolkata hospital.

Bengal Minister Injured After Assailants Hurl Crude Bombs in Murshidabad | West Bengal minister Jakir Hossain was seriously injured after unidentified attackers hurled bombs at him in Nimtita railway station in Murshidabad district on Wednesday night. At least two other persons who were with him were also injured in the incident.