The First campaign rally of Modi at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Grounds on Sunday is set to run on a double engine of showbiz star power and some promised “surprises”, including the possible presence of many among the 28 Trinamool MLAs who missed out on party tickets to seek re-election.

Former Trinamool Congress MP Mithun Chakraborty is also expected to attend the rally, according to BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya.

The rally is significant as it will mark the culmination of the BJP’s “Parivartan Yatra”.

Among a string of defections from TMC to BJP, former railway minister and Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP Dinesh Trivedi formally joined BJP in Delhi and said in party president JP Nadda’s presence, “I have joined the people’s family.” He promised to be part of Modi’s Brigade roadshow.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will lead a ‘padayatra’ in Siliguri to protest against the steep hike in fuel prices, including LPG cylinders.

Deputy speaker and Satgachhia MLA Sonali Guha and Trinamool veteran Jotu Lahiri, who is the sitting legislator from Shibpur, have already spoken of leaving CM Mamata Banerjee’s party. Bengal BJP insiders hinted at some more “surprises”.

The saffron party has not yet given up on BCCI president Sourav Ganguly,  joining the Brigade show.

BJP functionaries said that they were “expecting another stalwart from the cultural field”, triggering a buzz about top Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee going down the saffron path. The actor, however, protested vehemently. He said, “I do not know why such a rumour is being spread. Honestly, nobody from BJP has even approached me to be at the Brigade rally. I am in Pune right now, shooting for an advertorial, and will be here till March 21-22. I do not know why my name is being dragged into all this.”