New Delhi: Ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, a letter from Prime Minister Narendra Modi is being widely circulated across the state, with the Prime Minister asserting that Bengal’s future will be determined by the choices voters make in the coming months. In the message, he reminds citizens that the destiny of the state — particularly its youth — will soon be in their hands.
“What will be the future of Bengal’s youth will be decided in a few months. Your decision will shape their destiny. The men, women and children of Bengal are deprived. I have taken a pledge to make Bengal ‘bikoshito’ (developed) and prosperous,” the Prime Minister wrote.
One of the key highlights of the letter is Modi’s invocation of Goddess Kali in his appeal to voters. Opening with “Jai Maa Kali” — written in Bengali — the message signals what observers describe as a strategic shift in the BJP’s political messaging in the state. While the slogan “Jai Shri Ram” has long been associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party and frequently echoed by its Bengal leaders, the Prime Minister’s use of “Jai Maa Kali” reflects an attempt to connect more directly with Bengal’s deep-rooted devotion to Goddess Kali.
Addressing the people of the state — youth, elders and women — Modi said the future of the next generation hinges on the decisions taken in the upcoming polls. He described West Bengal’s present condition as “painful” and vowed to work wholeheartedly towards transforming it into a developed and prosperous state.
The Prime Minister highlighted the achievements of his government over the past 11 years, stating that welfare and inclusive development have been central priorities. He listed several central schemes that, according to him, have benefited lakhs of people in West Bengal despite alleged non-cooperation from the state government.
He claimed that nearly 50 million people in the state have been brought into the banking system under the Jan Dhan Yojana. He also cited the construction of 8.5 million toilets under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, loans worth ₹2.82 lakh crore extended to small businesses, enrolment of 5.6 million senior citizens under the Atal Pension Yojana, distribution of cooking gas connections to over 10 million families under the Ujjwala Yojana, and direct financial assistance to more than 5.2 million farmers through the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme.
In the letter, Modi expressed concern over unemployment, migration of youth to other states, and the safety of women. He alleged that decades of misgovernance and appeasement politics have weakened what was once a leading industrial state in the country.
Referring to eminent Bengali icons such as Swami Vivekananda, Sri Aurobindo, Subhas Chandra Bose and Rabindranath Tagore, the Prime Minister said the Bengal they envisioned is now trapped in vote-bank politics, violence and instability. He also raised the issue of illegal immigration and alleged the presence of fake voters, claiming that these factors threaten the identity of “Sonar Bangla.”
Modi maintained that central initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat have improved living standards in several states and said West Bengal deserves similar progress. He urged voters to join what he termed a “journey of development,” promising a future free from fear, corruption and administrative failures.
The Prime Minister also referred to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), stating that it would provide relief to refugees facing religious persecution. He reiterated his commitment to tackling illegal infiltration and ensuring transparent governance.
Paying tribute to Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Modi said his efforts ensured that West Bengal remained an integral part of India. He called upon citizens to revive the Bengal envisioned by Mookerjee and to work together to build a renewed West Bengal by 2026.
