Modi’s Rally in Bishnupur  

Speaking to a large crowd that had waited hours, the Prime Minister said every public gathering was growing bigger and reflected both love and anger against the current state government. He urged voters to give BJP candidates a massive mandate, adding that people of Bengal had already resolved to elect a BJP Chief Minister.

Focus on Women’s Safety  

Modi asserted, “The BJP’s identity is women’s empowerment and women’s safety. That is why, in every state of the country, sisters and daughters give the BJP the most blessings.” He called for expanding the role of women in building a Viksit Bharat and encouraged more daughters to enter politics.

Women’s Reservation Push  

The Prime Minister reminded the audience that women of Bengal had demanded 33 per cent reservation in legislatures and wanted it implemented from 2029. He said his government had worked to deliver both. Yet, he claimed, the TMC did not want more of Bengal’s daughters to become MLAs and MPs because they would challenge the party’s “Maha Jungle Raj”.

TMC Faces Sharp Attack  

Modi alleged the ruling party had betrayed Bengal’s daughters and even insulted a woman tribal President. He pointed to repeated concerns raised by the Calcutta High Court and said the “jungle raj” had reached a point where the TMC ignored court directives. The time had come, he added, to punish the TMC strictly at the polls. He claimed fear of the May 4 results was already visible in the language used by TMC leaders.

Welfare Schemes for Bengal  

Turning to development, Modi said eight lakh people in the state had applied under the Vishwakarma scheme but only one registration took place because the TMC government did not allow it to move forward. In contrast, he noted that in neighbouring Odisha, where the BJP is in power, around 7.5 lakh beneficiaries had applied and over ₹150 crore had already reached them through banks. Once a BJP government is formed in Bengal, he promised, beneficiaries would receive Modi’s guarantee of support.

He also announced that under the PM Surya Ghar scheme the Centre would provide around ₹80,000 to every family so that electricity bills in Bengal could become zero. Women would get affordable LED bulbs and cheaper piped gas connections in Bankura. On drinking water, Modi said nearly every household in Bihar already had tap connections while Bengal faced a serious problem, with funds allegedly looted by TMC syndicates. A BJP Chief Minister and Prime Minister working together would ensure tap water reached every home, he declared.

Parallel Campaigns Heat Up  

While Modi campaigned in West Bengal, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed a rally in Tamil Nadu’s Tenkasi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a roadshow in Erode. In Thuraiyur, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi spoke on a bill related to women’s reservation. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, meanwhile, accused the Prime Minister of trapping people in a “web of lies”.

Poll Machinery on Alert  

The Election Commission has tightened security with a 100-metre perimeter around polling stations. A Kolkata Police constable was suspended for allegedly trying to influence voters during postal ballots. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed Mamata Banerjee had sold land to Bangladeshi Muslims for votes, while BJP state leader Dilip Ghosh defended the Centre’s record on women’s issues.

Voters Hold the Key  

With the first phase of polling just days away, the Bishnupur rally has sharpened the battle lines on women’s empowerment and governance. The coming weeks will show whether the BJP’s repeated pitch on safety, reservation and welfare schemes sways the women voters it is courting so aggressively in Bengal.