Krishnagar, April 23
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday congratulated voters in West Bengal for what he described as a strong turnout in the first phase of assembly elections, suggesting it could signal a desire for political change. Speaking at a rally in Krishnanagar, he said the level of participation so far indicated an “overwhelming mandate for change”. He also claimed that incidents of poll-related violence had remained relatively low compared with past elections in the state.
According to early data, voter turnout stood at just over 62 percent by early afternoon, with polling taking place across more than 150 constituencies. However, officials reported isolated incidents of unrest in some areas during the initial hours of voting.
The prime minister also took aim at the ruling All India Trinamool Congress, using a light-hearted reference to the popular local snack “jhalmuri” to criticise its leaders.
Reiterating his party’s promises, Modi said a set of welfare-focused guarantees would be introduced, particularly aimed at supporting women and children in the state.
He further criticised the ruling party’s policies, alleging they encouraged illegal infiltration, and reiterated that citizenship provisions under the Citizenship Amendment Act would be implemented more effectively if his party came to power.
The elections in West Bengal are being closely watched, with the Bharatiya Janata Party seeking to expand its presence in a state long dominated by regional forces.
