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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday issued a strong call for political change in West Bengal, urging voters to give the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) “one opportunity” to form a “double engine government” in the 2026 Assembly elections. Addressing a public meeting in Nadia’s Taherpur virtually due to adverse weather conditions, Modi placed development at the center of his appeal while launching sharp criticism against the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Modi said a BJP-led government in the state, aligned with the Centre, would accelerate development at a much faster pace. Drawing a comparison with Tripura, the Prime Minister remarked that decades of Left rule had stalled progress there until people gave the BJP a chance. “Tripura suffered for nearly 30 years under communists and leftists. When people trusted us, development followed. Bengal can witness the same transformation,” he said.
The Prime Minister’s helicopter could not land at the Ranaghat helipad near Taherpur due to poor visibility and dense fog. As a precautionary measure, the aircraft was diverted back to Kolkata. From there, Modi addressed the scheduled rally through a virtual platform. Beginning his speech with “Joy Nitai,” he apologised to the gathering for not being physically present. “I am sorry that bad weather prevented me from reaching you. I am trying to connect with you through technology,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Modi arrived at Kolkata airport at 10:33 am, where he was received by State Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya and Chief Secretary Manoj Pant. He departed for Taherpur by helicopter around 11:15 am before the flight was called off due to weather conditions.
In his virtual address, Modi accused the Trinamool Congress of blocking development and prioritising politics over public welfare. He alleged that thousands of crores worth of central projects remain stalled in West Bengal. “Oppose me a hundred times if you want, but why stop Bengal’s development?” he asked. According to Modi, the state needs a government that focuses on growth, infrastructure, and employment rather than confrontation.
The Prime Minister also raised the issue of infiltration, alleging that illegal migrants enjoy the protection of the ruling party. He claimed that the TMC is opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process because it wants to shield infiltrators. “Make a double engine BJP government in Bengal and see how fast development happens,” Modi reiterated.
Modi further attacked the TMC by saying that the negative legacy of the Left has now found a new home in the ruling party. “The failures of the Left are visible in the Trinamool today. The dreams of ordinary people are being crushed,” he said, promising that a BJP government would work tirelessly to fulfil the aspirations of Bengal’s citizens.
However, Modi remained silent on the sensitive Matua issue, which has triggered political debate in the state. After the publication of draft electoral rolls under the SIR process, a large number of names were reportedly removed from Matua-dominated Assembly constituencies, including over 42,000 voters from Ranaghat North-East and South. This sparked fears of disenfranchisement and uncertainty among the community.
Many Matua supporters had expected a major announcement on citizenship during Modi’s address. The absence of any direct assurance drew criticism from the Trinamool Congress. Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said the Prime Minister missed an opportunity to address the concerns of people affected by the electoral revision process. BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, however, claimed that Modi had assured that no one’s citizenship would be taken away.
In another symbolic reference, Modi spoke about the flow of the Ganga river, linking it to electoral momentum. He said just as the Ganga flows from Bihar into Bengal, the political mandate that helped the NDA form a government in Bihar would soon reach West Bengal as well. Highlighting recent infrastructure projects and GST-related reforms, Modi said connectivity and economic activity are already improving under BJP-led initiatives.
Referring to the NDA’s recent success in Bihar, Modi asserted that the victory had opened the path for change in Bengal. He claimed that voices across the state are now calling for an end to “jungle raj” and demanding BJP governance.
Concluding his speech, Modi invoked Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, recalling how “Vande Mataram” united the nation during colonial rule. He said Bengal has always led India’s cultural and national awakening, and it is once again ready for transformation.
