Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit West Bengal on Saturday to launch a series of development projects worth approximately Rs 18,680 crore in Kolkata, ahead of the state’s assembly elections scheduled for April-May.
Modi's visit comes amidst a politically charged atmosphere in the state, following the publication of the electoral rolls after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. The ruling Trinamool Congress has raised concerns over what it claims is a mass deletion of voters from the list.
During his visit, Modi will address a BJP rally at Kolkata’s iconic Brigade Parade Ground, marking the conclusion of the party's statewide 'Parivartan Yatra' ahead of the polls. The yatra, seen as the BJP's largest mobilisation effort in recent years, began on March 1, a day after the revised electoral rolls were published. Covering nearly 5,000 km, it criss-crossed 237 assembly constituencies across the state.
The BJP, which made significant gains in the 2019 and 2021 elections as the main opposition party, is now aiming to oust the Trinamool Congress from power. Reports suggest that the party plans to take a more strategic, Bangla-centric approach rather than going after every seat in the upcoming elections.
The Election Commission is expected to announce the poll schedule next week.
The SIR process has become a political flashpoint in the state, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee staging a dharna against the exercise, accusing the Election Commission of being influenced by the Modi government.
Official data released on February 28 reveals that 63.66 lakh names—around 8.3% of the electorate—were removed from the voter list following the SIR revision, reducing the state's voter base from 7.66 crore to just over 7.04 crore. Additionally, more than 60.06 lakh electors have been classified under the "under adjudication" category, meaning their eligibility will be determined through legal scrutiny in the coming weeks.
Among the major projects Modi will inaugurate on Saturday are several National Highway initiatives, spanning over 420 km and valued at approximately Rs 16,990 crore. The prime minister will also inaugurate and lay the foundation for multiple shipping and port-related projects. In the railway sector, Modi will flag off the Purulia-Anand Vihar Terminal (Delhi) Express and inaugurate six redeveloped railway stations under the Amrit Station Scheme.
