Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that the first phase of voting in the West Bengal Assembly elections signals a strong “wave of change” in the state, expressing confidence that it points toward a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) victory. Addressing a public rally in Panihati, he said the voter turnout and support reflected growing momentum in favour of his party.

The Prime Minister’s remarks came a day after the first phase of polling, which saw a turnout of nearly 92 per cent among approximately 3.60 crore eligible voters. He described the high participation as an endorsement of democratic values and claimed that it marked a decisive shift in the political mood of the state. Criticising the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), Modi alleged that the party had weakened democratic institutions in West Bengal through what he termed “dictatorship.” He said that voters had begun “reconstructing the temple of democracy” through their participation in the electoral process and urged them to continue this momentum in the upcoming phases.

Modi further claimed that the TMC appeared unsettled following the first phase of voting and alleged that party workers had been mobilised overnight. He added that after the election results are announced, those responsible for alleged misconduct would have “no place to hide,” while also describing the initial phase as the beginning of the end of what he called “jungle raj” in the state.

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The Prime Minister also focused on issues of women’s safety and representation, accusing the TMC of failing to protect women and describing it as an “anti-women party.” He highlighted the BJP’s approach of “women-led development” and pointed to candidates fielded by the party who, he said, had personally experienced injustice.

Referring to specific candidates, Modi mentioned individuals connected to high-profile cases, including the mother of a victim in a recent crime and a survivor from Sandeshkhali, stating that the BJP had given them an opportunity to contest elections. He said the party aimed to amplify voices seeking justice, contrasting this with what he alleged was the ruling party’s response to such concerns.

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