On Monday, Modi said he will be in West Bengal after May 4th for the BJP’s ceremony after the election. He was speaking at a ‘Victory Commitment’ rally in Barrackpore before Phase II of the election, and his words made the importance of the election very clear because so many people voted in Phase I.
Modi’s claim and confidence
The Prime Minister said the Barrackpore event would be his last big public appearance in the state during this campaign. He said he’s gotten a strong sense of what the people of West Bengal are thinking and believes he’ll be at the BJP’s swearing in after the results on May re. Finishing this final rally, he added, just made him even more enthusiastic. He framed the BJP’s efforts in the second phase as a crucial battle for control of the state.
Modi described his relationship with Bengal as a very personal and spiritual one. He said his fondness for the state comes from his devotion to Shakti, and how Bengal is an important place for his own spiritual growth. He’s been inspired by the famous people of Bengal, and by the kindness of the people themselves.
Personal connect and campaign messaging
He called being in Bengal a gift, and said the love of the people (who he calls ‘Janata Janardan’) have really shaped how he sees things. He’s trying to combine the energy of the campaign with the culture and spiritual meaning of Bengal.
He says he carefully looks at the heartfelt messages and pictures he’s gotten at rallies and along roads during the campaign, and he does this at night. He reads all the letters, which tell him about people’s problems and give him their blessings, and he makes sure his responses are carefully considered.
Emotional outreach and long political journey
Modi has been working in politics and with the party for many years, in many different positions, and never stopped. He’s travelled all over the country, at all times of the day and in all kinds of weather, and he says he finds peace being with the people he thinks of as his family.
Modi was campaigning for Kaustav Bagchi, the BJP candidate in Barrackpore. In Barrackpore, Raj Raju Chakraborty, the current MLA and a filmmaker for the Trinamool Congress, is trying to be re-elected. Suman Ranjan Bandyopadhyay from the CPI(M) is attacking both the current government and the BJP, so there are three main candidates in Barrackpore.
Barrackpore contest and political stakes
Barrackpore is a city area within the North t4 Parganas district. It’s a “General” category constituency (meaning it isn’t reserved for a specific community) and is part of the Barrackpore parliamentary seat. The complicated contest in Barrackpore is similar to the competition in the second phase of voting more generally.
The day before the rally, the Prime Minister visited the Thanthania Kalibari in North Kolkata. This very old Kali temple (from 1703) is one of the oldest in the city, where Kali Ma is worshipped as Maa Siddheshwari and is considered to be awake and aware (‘Jagrat’).
Key developments and dates to note:
– Phase I turnout at 91.78 percent, ECI data
– Phase II polling scheduled on 29 April
– Counting of votes slated for 4 May
– Modi vows to attend BJP oath-taking
– Barrackpore faces a three-cornered contest
Symbolism and schedule ahead
He brought up the temple’s history as part of his discussion of his spiritual side. Ramakrishna Paramahansa has long been connected to the temple; he supposedly visited and sang religious songs there, which shows the cultural background of the campaign.
The Election Commission said 91.78% of eligible voters showed up to vote in Phase I, and this was done with a lot of security. Phase II is April 29th, and the votes will be counted on May 4th. These dates don’t leave a lot of time for campaigning and mean candidates have to reach voters quickly.
During his speech, Modi said the election in West Bengal could change the future of Bengal and all of eastern India. He mentioned Anga, Banga, and Kalinga (historical regions) to suggest that the election could have a much wider effect on the region. He’s saying the outcome in the state will be important for the whole country.
As the candidates are making their final arguments, the BJP is relying on Modi’s promise of continued progress after the election, the Trinamool Congress is pointing to their current position in power, and the CPI(M) is challenging both of them. The next test will come on election day, when the large number of voters and the three-way contest in Barrackpore will all come together when people fill out their ballots.
