Modi Heads to Alipurduar, Sharpening BJP’s Pitch in Bengal Against TMC Rule
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced he’ll address a BJP public gathering in Alipurduar, West Bengal, on Thursday afternoon. It’s part of the party’s ongoing push in a region that has, for years now, remained both politically elusive and emotionally charged.
Modi’s message was clear, if unsurprising: praise for the NDA’s national development programs, paired with a sharp critique of the Trinamool Congress (TMC)’s handling of state governance. “Over the last decade, the various schemes of the NDA Government have been greatly appreciated by the people of West Bengal,” he wrote. “At the same time, they are tired of the corruption and poor administration of the TMC.”
A state the BJP can’t quite crack—or ignore
West Bengal has never been an easy state for the BJP to fully penetrate. Even with growing support in northern districts like Alipurduar and Cooch Behar, the party has struggled to overcome the deep-rooted political machinery of the TMC.
The math matters. West Bengal sends a large contingent to Parliament, and even marginal seat gains here could shift national balances. But the emotion matters too. The BJP wants to frame the contest not just in electoral terms, but as a referendum on governance—on trust, really—at both the state and central levels.
Corruption, fatigue, and a shifting political mood?
Modi’s jab at the TMC’s “poor administration” taps into a real sentiment that’s simmering in some corners of Bengal, particularly around allegations of corruption and bureaucratic inefficiency. Over the past two years, the TMC has faced its share of scandals, including the teacher recruitment scam and other cases that have kept the Enforcement Directorate and CBI busy in the state.
Still, political fatigue is a complicated thing. It doesn’t always translate into votes for the opposition—especially when the incumbent party still commands strong grassroots loyalty, as Mamata Banerjee’s TMC continues to do in much of southern Bengal.
And then there’s the central vs. state dynamic. Modi’s popularity at the national level remains high, even in places where BJP’s state units are weaker. According to Morning Consult’s global leader approval tracker, Modi consistently ranks among the world’s most popular leaders, with approval ratings hovering well above 70% for much of the past year.
So what’s the goal here?
The Alipurduar rally, strategically located near tribal and border communities where BJP has made inroads, is as much about consolidating the base as it is about testing the waters. With general elections likely to be held in 2026 in West Bengal, and ongoing Lok Sabha momentum-building this year, every rally becomes a kind of litmus test: Is the disillusionment with TMC strong enough to turn the tide?
Looking ahead
If anything, Modi’s stop in Alipurduar is a reminder that Indian politics, especially in states like West Bengal, is rarely about just one election cycle. It’s about long games, slow builds, and carefully constructed narratives. Whether the BJP’s message lands this time—or whether voters continue to back the homegrown defiance of the TMC—is something only time, and turnout, will tell.
