Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally virtually in Nadia, West Bengal, on Saturday after his helicopter could not land at the Taherpur helipad due to dense fog. Officials said the helicopter hovered over the site for a while before returning to Kolkata airport, forcing the PM to switch to a virtual address. Modi also apologised to the attendees for not being able to speak in person.
The rally, part of the BJP’s Parivartan Sankalpa Sabha campaign, saw the Prime Minister targeting the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) on issues he claimed were critical ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. Modi accused the Mamata Banerjee-led government of shielding illegal immigrants and opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, calling it a major impediment to electoral transparency in the state.
Modi attacks Trinamool over illegal immigrants
“The Trinamool backs the infiltrators, and that is why they are opposing the SIR of voter rolls,” Modi said, urging voters to support a double-engine BJP government in West Bengal. He painted the current TMC administration as one that obstructs development due to corruption, nepotism, and appeasement policies.
He referred to the state’s situation as a “maha jungle raj,” echoing his campaign rhetoric from Bihar, and stressed that opposition should not prevent Bengal’s progress. Modi also paid tribute to BJP workers who lost their lives in a road accident while travelling to the rally, expressing condolences for their untimely deaths.
Virtual address after disrupted travel
Modi reached Kolkata in the morning and was scheduled to fly to Taherpur via helicopter to inaugurate certain highway projects alongside the rally. However, in view of poor visibility, the chopper mission was cancelled, prompting a shift to a virtual format. Despite the change, Modi maintained a strong campaign message, focusing on governance, development, and electoral reforms.
Party sources said that the virtual address did not diminish the rally’s impact, as thousands of BJP supporters gathered at the venue to listen to the Prime Minister on large screens. Local leaders highlighted that Modi’s emphasis on infrastructure, governance, and electoral transparency resonates with voters in Nadia and neighbouring districts.
Election narrative and development agenda
In his speech, Modi highlighted the BJP’s promises for West Bengal, emphasising infrastructure development, governance reforms, and welfare schemes. He contrasted these with what he described as the TMC’s inefficiencies and malpractices, urging voters to choose change in the upcoming assembly elections.
The Parivartan Sankalpa Sabha in Nadia is one of several rallies organised by the BJP in the state as part of its campaign strategy to consolidate votes ahead of the polls. By addressing the crowd virtually, the Prime Minister was able to maintain campaign momentum despite adverse weather conditions.
Conclusion
While dense fog prevented a physical presence, Prime Minister Modi’s virtual address allowed the BJP to continue its aggressive campaign in West Bengal. The rally reinforced key themes for the party: opposition to illegal immigration, electoral reforms through SIR, and the promise of accelerated development under a double-engine government. Modi’s strategic messaging is expected to set the tone for further rallies in the state in the lead-up to the assembly elections.