Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address a large public rally in Singur, Hooghly district, on January 18, as part of a two-day visit to West Bengal that also includes Malda. BJP sources indicate the event at the abandoned Tata Nano project site, known as Tata Field, is expected to attract massive crowds, with local party leaders overseeing extensive preparations.
The selection of Singur carries deep political symbolism, referencing the 2006 protests led by Mamata Banerjee against land acquisition for Tata Motors' Nano factory. Those agitations contributed to the company's relocation to Gujarat and played a key role in Banerjee's Trinamool Congress rising to power in 2011, ending 34 years of Left Front rule. Reports suggest local residents now express regret over the project's exit, citing unrevived farmland and lost industrial opportunities.
Ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, BJP national president JP Nadda will visit West Bengal on January 8 and 9 to assess party preparedness. His itinerary includes meetings with district leaders, party workers, and members of the BJP Doctors' Cell to collect feedback on grassroots issues. Additional senior leaders are expected to tour the state soon to bolster organizational efforts.
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In a related development from the recent parliamentary winter session, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman criticized the Trinamool Congress government for hindering West Bengal's progress despite substantial central assistance. She pointed to the state's withdrawal from the Ayushman Bharat scheme in 2019 and an exodus of industries, with 448 listed and 6,447 unlisted companies departing between April 2011 and September 2025.
Sitharaman further highlighted increased central support, including Rs 5.94 lakh crore in tax devolution since 2014—a 4.4-fold rise—and Rs 24,000 crore in interest-free loans under SASCI. Infrastructure advancements include the opening of AIIMS Kalyani, approval of 11 medical colleges, a record Rs 13,955 crore railway allocation for 2025-26, extensive highway construction, near-complete railway electrification, and approval for Bagdogra Airport expansion at Rs 1,549 crore.
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