Speaking in the tribal-dominated Jhargram region of West Bengal on January 31, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) for neglecting tribal communities and ignoring local issues such as illegal land encroachments.
Addressing the Vijay Sankalp Sabha, Modi called for the removal of the TMC government, which he said seeks to establish a “government of and for infiltrators,” threatening the state’s cultural and social fabric.
PM Modi stated that women in Bengal have been deprived of their rights, security, and economic opportunities under the TMC administration and said that women's empowerment remains a priority for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
He said, “You gave 15 years to the ruthless TMC government. In the 15 years, what did the ruthless TMC sarkar give you? What did the adivasi (tribal) areas get? Na padai Na kamai, Na dawai, Na sichai (No education, no earnings, no medicine, and no irrigation)… If you have to build even a small house, you have to rely on the TMC syndicate, be it MP or an MLA of the TMC, they don’t care about your problems. These people are just interested in filling up their tijoris (coffers). Here, the TMC has encroached upon hundreds of acres of tribal land.”
He urged the electorate to give “one avsar for Modi” by electing a BJP Chief Minister in West Bengal, promising reliable electricity supply and relief from high electricity bills.
Modi accused the TMC of planning a government that protects infiltrators, asserting, “In every region of Bengal, people have resolved that ‘paltano dorkar’ (change is needed).”
Highlighting vulnerable tribal groups such as the Birhor, Toto, and Lodha, Modi said the central government has introduced the PM Janman Yojana for their development but claimed that the state government has obstructed its implementation. “Once the TMC government is removed, all eligible beneficiaries will be able to access the benefits of the PM Janman Yojana,” he said.
He added that the central government has granted official status to the Bengali and Santhali languages, stating, “Our government has given proper status to the beloved Bengali language and has made Santhali language an official language.”
Modi described the upcoming election as crucial to protecting Bengal's heritage and identity, alleging that the TMC failed to ensure the benefits of minimum support prices (MSP) for minor forest produce reached tribal families. He said, “Before 2014, when the Congress government was in power in the country, the people of TMC were partners in that government. At that time, MSP was provided only on 8 or 10 minor forest produce, it is our government that provides MSP on nearly 100 minor forest produce… But even this benefit does not reach you in the TMC government. This is Modi’s guarantee that, just like the BJP governments in Odisha and Chhattisgarh, the tribal families of Bengal will also be given the full benefit of this.”
Modi noted that a significant number of tribal MLAs and MPs are members of the BJP because of the party's sensitivity toward tribal culture and development. He criticised the TMC for electricity shortages and high power bills, stating, “TMC is looting ‘bijli’ while Modi is striving to make your bijli bill zero.” He highlighted the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, a scheme to provide free electricity by installing rooftop solar panels, which the TMC has reportedly blocked in West Bengal, although it has been successfully implemented in Odisha.
Addressing women's issues, Modi condemned the TMC as “anti-women” and urged voters to end its rule. He said, “The anti-women TMC must now be ousted from power. The sisters of Bengal must get their rights, security, and opportunities for earning, and this is the BJP’s priority.”
He also accused the TMC of opposing women's reservation in Parliament, stating, “The BJP tried to ensure that women start benefiting from reservations from 2029. But the mahila virodhi (anti-women) TMC opposed it in Parliament. The TMC resorted to every kind of deceit and trickery so that Bengal’s 33 per cent women could not become MLAs and MPs. Now, Bengal’s women must punish the TMC for this sin.”
Modi cautioned women about the TMC's record, recalling, “The TMC came to power talking about ‘Ma, Mati, Manush’ but the TMC has betrayed the mothers.” He reaffirmed the BJP's commitment to development and preserving Bengal's culture, adding, “The BJP is dedicated to vikas (development) and virasat (heritage). The BJP is fully committed to preserving and respecting Bengal’s culture.”
The West Bengal Assembly elections are scheduled in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with vote counting on May 4. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee seeks a fourth consecutive term, while the BJP aims to increase its previous tally of 77 seats and form the state government.

