Kolkata, April 5 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday used the Malda incident, where judicial officers were surrounded, as the central theme of the BJP's campaign against lawlessness in West Bengal, accusing the TMC government of running a "mafia raj" and framing the 2026 assembly elections as a direct contest between the "fear" spread by the ruling party and the BJP's "trust".
Addressing his first election rally in Cooch Behar in north Bengal after the poll schedule was announced, Modi used the Malda incident to highlight the BJP's twin campaign planks of "deteriorating law and order" and alleged demographic changes, as well as the issue of women's safety and infiltration from Bangladesh, to attack the TMC.
"Just a few days ago, the entire nation witnessed judicial officers being held hostage in Malda. What kind of government is this, where judges and constitutional procedures are not safe? We cannot expect such a government to keep the people of Bengal safe," Modi said.
The Prime Minister was referring to the incident on Wednesday night in Malda's Kaliachak-II block office, where seven judicial officers, including three women, were surrounded by a mob for several hours during hearings on names marked "under consideration" in the draft electoral rolls prepared during the Special Intensive Revision exercise.
"What happened in Malda is an example of TMC's 'mafia raj'," he said, alleging that the ruling party was "bent on destroying law and order" in the state.
Modi also framed the contest in binary terms.
"On one side, there is the 'fear' of the TMC, and on the other side, you have the BJP's 'trust'. On one side is the fear of TMC's corruption and cut money, and on the other side is the BJP, which promotes development," he said.
The PM also contrasted the fear of infiltration and settling foreigners in Bengal with the BJP's confidence in stopping infiltration and driving out infiltrators.
"On one side is the fear of losing freedom on one's own land because of changing demographics. On the other side is BJP's confidence of living with pride on one's own soil, and with dignity," he said.
The speech reflected the BJP's attempt to combine multiple political flashpoints into a single narrative before polling. Malda was used to highlight the opposition party's charge of collapsing governance, Sandeshkhali to evoke anger over crimes against women, and the debate over electoral rolls and the Citizenship Amendment Act to consolidate Hindu refugee and Matua votes in the border districts.
Referring to the row over the revision of electoral rolls, Modi said, "The TMC is opposing SIR (Special Intensive Revision) and the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) to protect infiltrators. The TMC does not want Hindu refugees to gain citizenship, and that is why it is opposing the CAA."
"Under TMC rule, there has been a dangerous demographic change in Bengal's border areas. These infiltrators get direct protection from the TMC's syndicate, putting the lives of the state's people under threat. In this game of appeasement politics, the identity of this great Bengal is being changed," Modi alleged.
He said those trying to change Bengal's identity would be ousted this time.
"No matter how much TMC goons try to terrorise you on polling day, you must trust the law. I have full faith in the Election Commission. There will be elections that are free, fair, and without fear," he said.
After May 4, the day of announcing poll results, the law will take its course, Modi said, and warned that every act of alleged corruption and violence under the TMC would be investigated.
"I assure you that after the elections, every one of their sins will be accounted for. Chun chun ke hisab hoga. No matter how powerful the criminal may be, justice will be done this time," he said.
Invoking Sandeshkhali, one of the BJP's most potent political weapons in Bengal over the past year, Modi said, "On one side are the cries of sisters and daughters subjected to brutal atrocities, like those in Sandeshkhali. On the other side is Modi's guarantee of security, dignity, and empowerment for women."
He said a BJP government in Bengal would ensure "real empowerment of women" and cited the Centre's "Lakhpati Didi" scheme and the law providing 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.