PM Modi launched the BJP's 2026 Bengal campaign in Nadia, attacking TMC as an "enemy of development" and unveiling ₹3,200 cr in projects to woo Matua voters.
Brajesh Mishra
In a fiery start to the BJP’s campaign for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a blistering attack on the Trinamool Congress (TMC) today, December 20, 2025. Addressing a massive rally in Ranaghat, Nadia, virtually due to logistical constraints, Modi labeled the ruling state government an "enemy of development." While formally inaugurating infrastructure projects worth ₹3,200 crore—including the critical four-laning of NH-34—the Prime Minister’s rhetoric focused heavily on political mobilization, accusing the TMC of fostering a culture of violence and blocking central benefits for the poor.
Nadia district is not a random choice for this launch; it is the cultural and political nerve center of the Matua community, a decisive Hindu refugee vote bank that swings elections in southern Bengal. In 2021, the BJP won 9 out of 17 seats here, turning it into a saffron stronghold. However, the visit comes amidst rising local anxiety. The recent Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has led to the deletion of thousands of voters, sparking fears of disenfranchisement among the Matuas. Modi’s speech served a dual purpose: showcasing development (NH-34 expansion) and reassuring a jittery core constituency.
The Key Players (Who & So What)
While headlines focus on the "Enemy of Development" jibe, the deeper story is the "SIR Anxiety Control." The rally was an emergency intervention disguised as an inauguration. The recent purge of voters from the electoral rolls has panic-stricken the Matua community, who fear their citizenship is being quietly eroded. Modi’s presence was implicitly designed to signal that the central government’s protection (via CAA logic) supersedes the state election commission’s deletion drives. Furthermore, the "Virtual Disconnect" is a critical vulnerability; by addressing the crowd via screen, Modi ceded the "ground connect" optic to the TMC, who are already spinning his physical absence as a lack of commitment to the state.
This rally formalizes the battle lines for 2026. By focusing on NH-34, the BJP is trying to override the TMC’s "Lakshmir Bhandar" welfare narrative with a "Hard Infrastructure" pitch. However, unless the BJP can substantively address the Matua community's fears regarding the voter list deletions, infrastructure promises may not be enough to hold the fort in Nadia.
Can a virtual assurance from the Prime Minister calm the very real fear of a community watching their names disappear from the voter lists?
What projects did PM Modi launch in Nadia, West Bengal in December 2025? Prime Minister Modi inaugurated infrastructure projects worth approximately ₹3,200 crore, with the centerpiece being the 4-laning of the Barajaguli–Krishnanagar section of NH-34, aimed at improving connectivity between North and South Bengal.
Why did PM Modi attack TMC in his Nadia speech? Modi accused the TMC government of being an "enemy of development," alleging that they have stalled central schemes like Ayushman Bharat and fostered a political culture of violence and corruption that is "crushing the dreams" of the state's youth.
What is the significance of Modi's visit to Krishnanagar/Ranaghat? The visit is strategically timed to consolidate the Matua community vote bank, a refugee group concentrated in Nadia that has been anxious regarding recent voter list deletions. It effectively serves as the launchpad for the BJP's 2026 Assembly Election campaign in a district they dominated in 2021.
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