Post Five-state polls, BJP's eyes will be on Mamata Banerjee's bastion

To keep its electoral machinery and party's organisational wings in actions, immediately after the five-state polls, BJP's focus is to shift to West Bengal, where its bitter critic Mamata Banerjee is in power.

'Mission East' will come into focus in view of the 2019 general elections wherein the saffron party expects to give Trinamool Congress a big contest in its own fiefdom. BJP chief Amit Shah has already set a target of 22-23 seats from the state which has 42 parliamentary constituencies.

The party is set to launch its month-long grand Rath Yatras - a series under the theme 'Save Democracy' from next Sunday, December 7.

BJP president Amit Shah will kick-start the three rath yatras in the state which are scheduled to start from Coochbehar district in north Bengal on December 7, from Gangasagar in south Bengal on December 9, and from Tarapith temple in Birbhum district on December 14.

Besides Mr Shah, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Assam Chief Minister Sarbanand Sonowal - to give the Bengal voters a first hand experience of his version on 'NRC' issue besides a number of rallies by Prime Minister Narendra Modi are on cards.

Initially, it was planned that Mr Modi could address rallies in Durgapur (on December 24), Malda (Dec 28) and Sreerampore (Jan 5), sources said - however - adding the dates and venues may be altered in due time based on various factors, sources said.

The Rath Yatras will cover all 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state.

"BJP will criss cross the state with three simultanoeous Yatras starting Dec 7, 9 and 14. BJP's top leadership will lead the charge. Massive support among the people already. It is time to Save Bengal," BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya tweeted.

Senior party leader Arvind Menon, who was handpicked by Amit Shah recently, is overseeing the preparations for BJP's 'battle in Bengal', a source said.