Amit Shah to visit Karaikal on February 14

Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to visit Karaikal on February 14.

Preparations for a public meeting are gathering pace. The bhoomi puja for erecting the stage and pandal at the municipal ground, where the meeting will be held, was performed on Saturday.

The event took place in the presence of Puducherry Legislative Assembly Speaker R. Selvam, with Puducherry State BJP in-charge Nirmal Kumar Surana participating as special invitee.

Addressing reporters after the ceremony, Mr. Surana said the BJP had intensified preparations for the upcoming Puducherry Assembly elections.

Sources from Karaikal BJP unit said that Mr. Shah, who visited Karaikal during the previous Assembly election campaign, would be visiting the region for the second time. Thousands of people were expected to attend the public meeting. Various committees had been formed and party cadres were working actively.

Stating that the objective was to ensure the victory of the NR Congress–BJP alliance in all five Assembly constituencies in Karaikal, a senior BJP functionary said the alliance remained strong and both parties were working with enthusiasm.

According to police sources in Karaikal, Mr. Shah is expected to arrive by helicopter at Thirunallar and attend the public meeting. He may also visit the Thirunallar temple before departing the same day. The detailed itinerary is expected to be finalised in the coming days.

Around 500 police personnel, including those from the Puducherry Police, are expected to be deployed. Security arrangements will be monitored by the Puducherry Deputy Inspector General of Police. Routine and street-level patrolling will be intensified, with enhanced checks along the Tamil Nadu–Karaikal border from Monday.