PM Modi slams TMC, flags ‘Maha Jungle Raj’ and anti-development politics in Bengal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that just as the people of Bihar have repeatedly rejected the return of “Jungle Raj”, West Bengal must now free itself from what he termed the “Maha Jungle Raj” under the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

The Prime Minister could not attend the BJP rally at Ranaghat in West Bengal’s Nadia district due to inclement weather and dense fog. His helicopter reportedly hovered over the Taherpur helipad but was forced to return to Kolkata airport after visibility failed to improve. Modi later addressed the rally virtually and apologised to party supporters for his absence.

“Due to inclement weather, I could not be physically present at the Ranaghat rally to meet my sisters and brothers of West Bengal. I therefore addressed the rally virtually and sought people’s blessings,” Modi said in a post on X.

Launching a sharp attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC, the Prime Minister accused the ruling party of misgovernance and stalling development in the state.

“The people of Bihar have shown time and again that they are not interested in the return of Jungle Raj. Now it is time to free West Bengal from the Maha Jungle Raj prevailing here because of the TMC,” he said.

Modi said the BJP stood for “speed, scale and good governance”, while alleging that the TMC was “preoccupied with cuts and commissions”, resulting in development projects worth thousands of crores being stalled. He claimed that schemes related to housing, healthcare, food security and education were suffering due to the state government’s “non-cooperative attitude”.

Infiltration charge

Raising the issue of illegal infiltration, Modi accused the TMC of shielding infiltrators and described it as a serious threat to the state.

“Look at the TMC’s affection for infiltrators. Their supporters raise slogans of ‘Modi Go Back’, but remain silent on saying ‘Infiltrators Go Back’,” he said.

The Prime Minister assured strict action if the BJP came to power in the state. “It is Modi’s guarantee that once a BJP government is formed in West Bengal, stronger action will be taken against infiltrators,” he said.

Development pitch

Highlighting infrastructure initiatives, Modi said several connectivity projects were inaugurated and foundation stones laid during the day. He said the proposed four-lane road from Barajaguli to Krishnanagar would benefit North 24 Parganas, Nadia and nearby regions, while significantly reducing travel time between Kolkata and Siliguri.

He also invoked Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s Vande Mataram on its 150th anniversary, saying it had once inspired freedom from colonial rule and must now motivate the nation to build a “Viksit Bharat” in the 21st century.

Referring to law and order, Modi said the people of West Bengal had “endured a lot” in recent years and expressed concern over the condition of women in the state.

Concluding his address, the Prime Minister urged voters to give the BJP an opportunity to form a “double-engine government” in West Bengal, promising development at “double the speed” ahead of the Assembly elections.