Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal, accusing it of altering the state’s culture through infiltration and presiding over what he termed “Maha jungleraj”.
Addressing a public rally in Purulia, a district with a significant tribal population, Modi stepped up the BJP’s campaign pitch ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, framing the political contest as one between development and appeasement.
“Due to infiltration, Bengal’s language and culture are witnessing a change,” he said, alleging that the ruling party’s policies had impacted the state’s social fabric.
He also accused the TMC government of neglecting tribal communities while pursuing appeasement politics. “The Santali language is being humiliated while a record budget is allocated for madrasa education. This is nothing but appeasement,” he said.
Referring repeatedly to the state government as “Maha jungleraj”, the Prime Minister alleged that tribal-dominated regions such as Purulia, Bankura and Jhargram were deprived of basic infrastructure including roads, drinking water and employment opportunities.
“Under TMC’s Maha jungleraj, tribal-dominated districts are lagging in development and basic amenities,” he said.
Modi also alleged that tribal land was being taken over through local syndicates linked to the ruling party. “The TMC syndicate has occupied the land of the tribals. Nothing gets done without paying cut money to the ruling party,” he said.
He further accused the TMC of opposing the 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures, claiming it feared greater representation of women lawmakers.
“The TMC feared that if more women MLAs were elected, they would raise their voice for women’s rights,” he said, urging voters to “punish” the party at the ballot box.
Also read: Modi targets TMC, pitches BJP ‘bharosa’ in Bengal
The Prime Minister also alleged widespread corruption and extortion under the state government, saying it had crippled industrial growth and governance.
“In TMC’s jungle raj, nothing gets done without bribery. When bribery is forced, how will industry thrive?” he said.
He linked corruption to unemployment, alleging that the state had witnessed “dangerous levels” of joblessness during the TMC’s 15-year rule. Referring to the school recruitment scam, he accused party leaders of “robbing” teacher appointments and damaging the future of thousands of youth.
“Thousands of schools in Bengal are running without teachers because jobs were looted,” he said.
Calling for political change, Modi said people in Purulia were increasingly seeking an alternative. “The entire Purulia wants change and is saying ‘Paltano Darkar’,” he said.
He asserted that corruption and misgovernance had eroded public trust, adding that the BJP had emerged as the “only credible alternative” in the state.
The Prime Minister also said development in tribal regions would accelerate under a “double-engine” government, with both the Centre and state ruled by the BJP.
“When both the PM and CM are from the BJP, Purulia’s development will move at twice the speed,” he said.
Highlighting tribal representation in BJP-ruled states, he pointed to Odisha and Chhattisgarh where tribal leaders have served as chief ministers.
PM Modi also said the Centre had created a separate ministry for tribal affairs and increased budgetary allocations for tribal welfare, contrasting it with what he termed neglect by the state government.
He added that a BJP government in West Bengal would promote regional languages including Bengali, Santali, Kurmali and Rajbanshi, and said the Centre had already accorded classical language status to Bengali.
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