Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a surprise boat ride on the Hooghly River in Kolkata, drawing attention during his visit to West Bengal amid ongoing election campaigning. The brief river journey came alongside his packed schedule, which included rallies and political engagements across multiple districts in the state.

During the boat ride, the Prime Minister shared his reflections on social media platform X, describing the Hooghly’s waters as carrying “the timeless spirit of an entire civilisation.” He also posted photographs from the journey, where he was seen seated on a wooden boat with the iconic Howrah Bridge and Vidyasagar Setu visible in the background, capturing the scenic backdrop of Kolkata’s riverfront.

Modi said he even tried his hand at photography during the ride, noting that he was able to get a close view of both the Vidyasagar Setu and the Howrah Bridge. He also expressed admiration for the cultural and emotional significance of the Ganga river for the people of Bengal, stating that it holds a special place in their lives and traditions.

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The Prime Minister also met local boatmen during the ride and praised their hardworking nature. One photograph from the visit showing Modi embracing a boatman named Gouranga Biswas quickly went viral on social media, drawing widespread attention and reactions online. The interaction was highlighted as a moment of personal connection during his official visit.

According to local reports, the boat used by the Prime Minister was owned by Md Iftikar Ahmed, who said he was not informed in advance about the programme and learned about it only minutes before the visit. He stated that seven boats were arranged for the ride and expressed happiness that one of them was used by the Prime Minister. BJP sources also confirmed that Modi spent the night at Lok Bhavan after a roadshow and visited Belur Math earlier in the day as part of his campaign schedule in West Bengal.

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