PM Modi Calls for End to ‘Maha Jungleraj’ in Bengal

KOLKATA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a blistering attack on West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress, calling for an end to what he termed maha-jungleraj in the state, even as adverse weather conditions forced him to address a rally virtually from Kolkata airport instead of in person.

The Prime Minister's helicopter was unable to land at Taherpur in Nadia district due to dense fog, forcing the aircraft to circle the helipad before returning to Kolkata. Modi subsequently addressed thousands of gathered supporters via telephone in a 15-minute speech that set the tone for the BJP's campaign ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

Drawing parallels with Bihar's recent electoral outcome, Modi said: "Last month the people of Bihar gave a huge mandate to the NDA. After the victory in Bihar, I had said that Ganga flows from Bihar to Bengal. Bihar had rejected jungle-raj for 20 years... now people of West Bengal need freedom from the maha-jungleraj prevailing here."

The Prime Minister's remarks on the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance's victory in Bihar's November assembly polls suggested a similar political transformation awaited West Bengal. He repeatedly invoked the slogan "Bachte Chai, BJP Tai" (Need BJP to survive), which the party has adopted for next year's State elections.

At the heart of Modi's attack was the contentious Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, which has emerged as a flashpoint between the Centre and the State Government. The Prime Minister accused the Trinamool Congress of opposing the SIR exercise to protect what he called illegal infiltrators.

"Trinamool Congress is opposing SIR to save infiltrators from getting identified," Modi thundered, claiming that the ruling party raises slogans of "Go Back Modi" but remains silent on the issue of illegal immigration. Such posters had appeared in areas surrounding Taherpur ahead of his visit.

The timing and location of the rally held significant political symbolism. Taherpur lies in the heart of Nadia district, home to a substantial population of Matuas—a Dalit Hindu community that migrated from Bangladesh during Partition in 1947 and the 1971 war.

The community wields influence in approximately 80 of the State's 294 assembly seats. The SIR exercise has caused considerable anxiety within the Matua community, with more than 5.8 million names excluded from draft electoral rolls and 1.36 crore entries flagged for discrepancies.

Many Matuas lack the specific documentation required by the Election Commission, raising fears of disenfranchisement despite the BJP's past promises of citizenship through the Citizenship Amendment Act.

However, Modi's brief address avoided substantive discussion of citizenship concerns, drawing criticism that he had missed an opportunity to reassure the community. While he paid tribute to Matua sect founders Harichand Thakur and Guruchand Thakur, he offered no concrete commitments on documentation or citizenship issues.

The Prime Minister also unveiled infrastructure projects worth Rs 3,200 crore, including the four-laning of highway sections connecting Kolkata and Siliguri. These improvements are expected to reduce travel time by nearly two hours and boost economic activity across the State's southern and northern regions.

Modi blamed the Trinamool Government for obstructing development, alleging widespread corruption. "Let the Trinamool oppose me and BJP as much as it wants, but the ruling party cannot hold people to ransom, make them suffer and stop Bengal's progress," he declared, promising that a double-engine Government—with the BJP in power both at the Centre and State—would transform West Bengal's fortunes.

The Trinamool Congress mounted a swift counter-offensive. Party leaders highlighted the tragic deaths of three BJP workers struck by a train near Taherpur while attending the rally, with MP Mahua Moitra accusing the BJP of hushing up the incident.

The victims were identified as Rama Prasad Ghosh, Muktipada Sutradhar, and Gopinath Das. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh dismissed Modi's speech as direction-less and politically motivated, arguing that it failed to address genuine concerns of Matua community members affected by the electoral revision.

The party also challenged Modi's claims about development funding, alleging that the Centre had withheld nearly Rs 2 lakh crore of Bengal's rightful funds and blocked MGNREGA wages despite Supreme Court directives.

The virtual rally marked Modi's fourth political appearance in West Bengal this year and his first since the draft SIR rolls were published. It signals an intensifying electoral contest in a State where the BJP made significant inroads during recent Lok Sabha polls but has struggled to dislodge Mamata Banerjee's Government at the State level.