Mood of Bengal suggests BJP's victory in polls, will return during oath-taking ceremony: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday exuded confidence that the BJP would form the next government in West Bengal after the assembly polls, asserting that he would return to the state after May 4 for the oath-taking ceremony. Drawing parallels with recent BJP gains in neighbouring states, Modi said after Bihar and Odisha, it was now West Bengals turn for the lotus to bloom.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday exuded confidence that the BJP would form the next government in West Bengal after the assembly polls, asserting that he would return to the state after May 4 for the oath-taking ceremony. Addressing a rally at Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas district on the final day of campaigning for the second and last phase of the assembly elections, Modi sharpened the BJP's pitch against the ruling Trinamool Congress, accusing it of presiding over ''syndicate raj'', political violence, infiltration and economic decline. ''Wherever I have gone in West Bengal, I have observed the mood of the people. I am returning with the conviction that after May 4, I will have to return to attend the BJP government's swearing-in ceremony,'' Modi said, drawing cheers. Invoking the historical significance of Barrackpore, he said the region had played a role in India's first war of Independence in 1857 and was now preparing the ground for change in West Bengal. Calling the election crucial for the future of eastern India, the prime minister said West Bengal's progress was inseparable from India's rise and that the eastern region must regain its historical strength. ''In the past, when India was prosperous, it had three strong pillars -- Anga, Banga and Kalinga – today's Bihar, Bengal and Odisha. When these three pillars weakened, it dealt a blow to India's strength. The nation's rise is incomplete without the rise of the East,'' he said. Drawing parallels with recent BJP gains in neighbouring states, Modi said after Bihar and Odisha, it was now West Bengal's turn for the ''lotus to bloom''. ''Bihar and Odisha have bloomed the lotus, and now it's West Bengal's turn. The atmosphere I am seeing here makes it certain,'' he said. ''My destiny and responsibility are to serve, secure and save West Bengal,'' he said. Launching a sharp attack on the TMC government, Modi alleged that the party had reduced governance to intimidation, abuse and lies. ''TMC's only strategy seems to be hurling abuses, issuing threats and spreading lies. They have targeted me, constitutional institutions and even the armed forces with derogatory remarks. Yet not one TMC leader has given an account of what they have done in 15 years,'' he said. Claiming that industries were collapsing while criminal networks thrived, Modi said ''jungle raj'' has ushered in the state. ''On one hand, mills that provided employment are shutting down, while on the other, factories producing crude bombs are flourishing. Goons are getting jobs and TMC's syndicate is expanding. This is their jungle law,'' he alleged. He said the TMC had abandoned the very slogan on which it came to power. ''In this election, one thing that concerns me is that TMC leaders do not even mention 'Maa, Maati, Maanush'. They did nothing for Maa, for the security of women; nothing for Maati, for farmers; and nothing for the youth,'' he said. Targeting the ruling party over women's safety, Modi appealed directly to women voters, saying West Bengal had been made unsafe for daughters and justice was denied to victims. ''When you go to vote, remember the faces of those thugs and hooligans who commit atrocities in the name of the TMC. Vote for the lotus so that daughters can step out at night without fear and those who faced injustice get justice,'' he said. He also attacked the TMC over alleged demographic change and illegal infiltration. ''The TMC had promised to turn Kolkata into London, but in 15 years, they have changed the identity of Kolkata. They have settled infiltrators in the city,'' he said. Assuring people that Indian citizens would be protected, Modi said, ''No Indian, irrespective of caste or religion, will face any problem, but infiltrators will not be spared.'' Reaching out to the Matua community, he reiterated that a BJP government would ensure citizenship and documentation for all eligible refugee families. ''I assure the Matua community that you will get citizenship and all necessary documents will be provided,'' he said. Referring to Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Modi said Bengal had laid the political foundation for the Jana Sangh and that the BJP had already fulfilled one of Mookerjee's major ideological commitments by abrogating Article 370. ''Another of his aspirations was West Bengal's prosperity and a permanent solution to the refugee issue. The BJP government set to be formed here will work to fulfill that vision,'' he said. Promising jobs as a central electoral plank, Modi said West Bengal had suffered migration for decades because of unemployment, with migrants leaving behind ageing parents. ''People had to leave West Bengal to earn a living and the elderly were left behind. This is heartbreaking. Therefore, the BJP government's priority will be employment for West Bengal's youth,'' he said. He announced five employment-focused measures, including transparent government recruitment, filling up of vacancies, implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission benefits, a 125-day rural employment guarantee, expansion of the creative economy through content creator labs, and full benefits for street vendors under the PM SVANidhi scheme. ''These are not just promises. This is Modi's guarantee,'' he said. Invoking Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and the spirit of Vande Mataram, Modi said Bengal's cultural strength must become the foundation for revival. ''Vande Mataram became the mantra for liberation from slavery. In the 21st century, it must become the mantra for the reconstruction of West Bengal. We will make 'sujalam sufalam' our policy, turn 'shasyashyamalam' into inspiration for employment and make 'malayaja sheetalam' the source of happiness and prosperity,'' he added.