BJP president Amit Shah to address rally in Malda today

The campaign started with an exchange of barbs between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress-led government in the state over Amit Shah's chopper landing in Malda.

According to reports, the state government has denied permission for landing the right-wing party's president Amit Shah's helicopter in Malda district. 

However late night development revealed that Shah's helicopter will now land at a private helipad in Malda on Tuesday, media reports said.

In its reply to a request from the BJP, the Malda district administration has said it is not possible to grant permission to land VVIP helicopters in this week, reported India Today.

In his letter, additional district magistrate of Malda as quoted by India Today has said: "As per report of the executive engineer, PWD (civil), Malda Division, up-gradation of work at Malda Airport is going on in full swing. A large quantity of fine sand, dust and GSB materials is lying all along the runway and also stacked all around the site."

Moreover, temporary helipad is not maintained properly due to this ongoing construction work. In this situation, Malda Airport is not suitable for safe landing of helicopters. Hence, granting of permission [for Amit Shah's chopper] is not possible," the letter read.

However, some media reports later claimed that persmission for the landing of the helicopter was later granted.

After the state government denied permission for the helicopter's landing, the Bharatiya Janata Party attacked West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the issue and said she was scared seeing the popularity of PM Narendra Modi and his party.

BJP leader Piyush Goyal said while addressing a press conference: "The popularity of BJP and PM Modi left Mamata Banerjee scared and hence she tried to create hurdles for party's program in the state."

He said there was no problem with the venue where Shah's helicopter was supposed to land for the rally.

He said: "There is no problem at the venue. Mamata Banerjee's helicopter also landed on the same place few days ago."

Malda rally comes after Mamata's massive Mahagathbandhan:

Led by West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, members of 23 parties shared the stage on Brigade Ground in Kolkata and vowed to oust the BJP from power in the next general elections on Saturday.