“Bengal is Ready for Change”: PM Modi Rips Into TMC ‘Jungleraj’ During Singur Rally

On Sunday, January 18, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Singur in West Bengal’s Hooghly district, a location deeply symbolic of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s rise to power. Addressing a large public rally, the PM inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for infrastructure projects worth ₹830 crore, framing them as the “momentum” needed for West Bengal’s development.

The visit is politically significant as Singur was the epicenter of the 2006 anti-land acquisition movement that ultimately ended the 34-year Left Front rule and propelled the TMC to power 20 years ago.

Key Project Launches & Highlights

The Prime Minister emphasized that these central projects are designed to turn West Bengal into a logistics and manufacturing hub.

• Logistics & Ports: Laid the foundation stone for an Extended Port Gate System at Balagarh. Spanning 900 acres, it includes an Inland Water Transport (IWT) terminal and a road overbridge aimed at handling 2.7 million tonnes of cargo annually.
• Railway Expansion: * Inaugurated the Jayrambati–Barogopinathpur–Maynapur rail line, providing vital connectivity to the Bankura district.
  • Flagged off three Amrit Bharat Express trains:
    1. Howrah – Anand Vihar Terminal (Delhi)
    2. Sealdah – Banaras (Varanasi)
    3. Santragachi – Tambaram (Chennai)
• Green Mobility: Launched a state-of-the-art Electric Catamaran in Kolkata, indigenously built by Cochin Shipyard for zero-emission river transport.

Political Significance: Singur’s History

The venue for the rally, Singur, holds a heavy historical weight:

• The 2006 Conflict: Mamata Banerjee led a fierce agitation against the acquisition of 997 acres of farmland for Tata Motors’ Nano car project.
• The Shift: The protests led to the project’s relocation to Sanand, Gujarat, under then-CM Narendra Modi.
• PM’s Message: In his speech, PM Modi criticized the state government for “obstructing” central benefits and urged the people to choose “real change” over what he termed as “mega-jungleraj.”

PM’s Two-Day Eastern Tour

The Singur visit followed a busy Saturday for the Prime Minister:

• Malda (Jan 17): PM Modi inaugurated projects worth ₹3,250 crore and flagged off India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train (Howrah–Guwahati).
• Assam (Jan 18 morning): Before arriving in Bengal, he visited Kaliabor to lay the foundation for the Kaziranga Elevated Corridor, stating that the nation’s faith in the BJP is “steadily increasing.”