Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually addressed a big crowd at Taherpur Netaji Park in Ranaghat, Bengal, on Saturday, 20th December. The Poor visibility prevented his helicopter from landing at the nearby Taherpur helipad, so it turned back to Kolkata airport, and he had to address the rally through telephone.
Battleground Bengal: PM Modi sets tone for 2026 Assembly elections in the state in virtual rally in Nadia @manogyaloiwal @SreyashiDey @reetksahni pic.twitter.com/lXJGRIeXUR
— NDTV (@ndtv) December 20, 2025
“I apologise that bad weather kept me from reaching the venue in Bengal’s Nadia district,” PM Modi said while talking to the rally over the phone from Kolkata.
PM Modi slams TMC, pushes for BJP in 2026 polls
Speaking to the rally in Bengal, where Assembly Elections are scheduled to take place in 2026, PM Modi said the BJP would put an end to TMC’s “Maha jungle raj.” He added that corruption, nepotism, and appeasement politics are the things that are running the show in Bengal.
PM Modi said West Bengal, under TMC rule, is lagging behind in development when compared to BJP-ruled Tripura, which is moving ahead fast. He added that Tripura had been ruined during the three decades of Left rule, but now it’s growing quickly since the BJP took over.
Call for a double-engine Government in Bengal
From Kolkata, PM Modi talked to the huge gathering and called on people to give the BJP a chance in the next assembly polls. He wants to form a “double engine government” in the state to bring real progress.
TMC opposing SIR to save infiltrators from getting identified, claims PM at Nadia rally.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 20, 2025
We will make all efforts to bring development in Bengal; give BJP a chance to form double-engine govt in state: PM at Nadia rally.
We will end TMC's 'Maha jungle raj' in Bengal, where… pic.twitter.com/DNZTGQFzzY
TMC blocking key efforts, says PM
PM Modi said the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC is going against the ongoing SIR exercise in West Bengal because it would help identify infiltrators.
VIDEO | Prime Minister Narendra Modi (@narendramodi), addressing a public rally in Nadia district virtually, says, “Infiltrators are determined to capture Bengal, and they are dear to the TMC. This is the real face of the TMC, and to protect them, the party is opposing SIR. What… pic.twitter.com/z2a7uLgwFT
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 20, 2025
He shared that folks at the grassroots level in Bengal want freedom from TMC’s misrule. “The lanes and alleys of the state are echoing with the slogan ‘Banchte chai, BJP tai’ which means need BJP to live,” he noted.
“Let the TMC oppose me and BJP as much as it wants, but the party can’t keep people held hostage, make them suffer, and block Bengal’s progress,” PM Modi said at the Parivartan Sankalpa Sabha. “We will end TMC’s ‘Maha jungle raj’ in Bengal where corruption, nepotism, and appeasement politics are in charge,” he added.
“Let Mamata Banerjee oppose Modi if she wants, let her oppose the BJP if she wants there’s no issue with that. But why is she getting in the way of Bengal’s development?” the PM asked.
Tribute to Rishi Bankim Babu
PM Modi also paid tribute to Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, who wrote ‘Vande Mataram.’ He called him ‘Rishi Bankim Babu’ and mentioned that the nation is marking 150 years of this national song.
