A sharp political confrontation has erupted between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he accused West Bengal of slipping into “jungle raj” under the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The Prime Minister’s remarks, delivered during a major post-election address, immediately triggered a spirited counterattack from the TMC.
PM Modi, fresh from the NDA’s emphatic victory in Bihar, said the mandate had given the BJP “new strength” and declared that similar change was now “inevitable” in West Bengal. In his speech, he said: “The people of Bengal deserve freedom from jungle raj. Just as the Ganga flows from Bihar to Bengal, the wave of change will reach Bengal too. The time has come for Bengal to rise above fear and misrule.”
His statement was widely interpreted as an early outline of the BJP’s strategy for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
TMC Calls Modi’s Remarks Misleading and Politically Charged
The strongest rebuttal came from TMC MP Sagarika Ghose, who accused the Prime Minister of treating Bengal “like a piece of land he wants to conquer and add to his CV.” She said: “We will not tolerate the BJP’s dirty politics. Bengal will never accept intimidation, division or attempts to undermine our culture and identity.”
Ghose also pushed back against the “jungle raj” label. Citing state crime trends, she argued that West Bengal has consistently reported lower rates of violent crime than several BJP-ruled states, including Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. According to her, this data alone exposes the “political exaggeration” behind the Prime Minister’s remarks.
TMC leaders also pointed to the state’s performance in social welfare schemes, women’s safety programmes, school enrollment, and rural development indicators as evidence that Bengal is not suffering from the collapse described by the BJP.
Political Context: A War of Words Ahead of High-Stakes Elections
PM Modi’s comments come at a critical juncture as both the BJP and the TMC gear up for the 2026 polls. Despite the BJP securing a historic foothold in Bengal in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the TMC decisively defeated the party in the 2021 Assembly elections, winning 213 seats. The setback forced the BJP to overhaul its organisational strategy in the state.
By invoking the term “jungle raj”, the BJP is attempting to foreground issues such as political violence, corruption allegations, the Sandeshkhali controversy and disputes over central funds. The party claims these reflect deep-rooted administrative failures under the TMC.
The TMC counter-argument is that the BJP is selectively highlighting incidents to manufacture a perception of chaos. They allege that the Central government has used funding delays as a political tool to corner Bengal.
TMC Predicts Return With 250 Seats
Projecting confidence, the TMC has signalled that it expects to return to power with around 250 seats. The number is not only a political claim but also a message aimed at energising the party’s ground workers.
Party strategists say their campaign will focus heavily on the success of schemes like Lakshmir Bhandar, Duare Sarkar, Krishak Bandhu, Kanyashree, and public infrastructure expansion. They also plan to frame the election as a battle for “Bengal’s dignity and cultural autonomy”, positioning the TMC as defenders of the state’s identity.
The Cultural Identity Factor Takes Centre Stage
The flashpoint between Modi and the TMC is not merely administrative. It goes deeper into Bengal’s political psyche. Over the years, the TMC has cultivated its image as the protector of Bengali culture, language and regional identity. Sagarika Ghose’s remarks echo this sentiment, portraying the BJP’s rhetoric as an attempt to undermine Bengal’s unique cultural ethos.
Bengal has long been sensitive to political narratives framed as external interference, a factor that played a major role in the 2021 election cycle. The TMC is once again tapping into this sentiment by accusing the BJP of trying to “dictate terms” to the state.
BJP’s Counter: Governance Before Identity
The BJP maintains that governance and law-and-order remain central concerns. The party alleges that attacks on opposition workers, recruitment irregularities and corruption cases highlight the failures of the TMC administration. BJP leaders insist that identity politics cannot overshadow what they describe as “administrative decay”.
With unemployment, federal-fund disputes and local governance issues emerging as key talking points, the BJP believes the electorate is ready for change.
A Precursor to a Polarised Election Season
The latest exchange between PM Modi and the TMC shows that the coming months will be politically charged. As both parties sharpen their narratives, West Bengal’s election landscape is set for a tense and combative countdown.
The term “jungle raj” and the TMC’s fiery rebuttal have already set the tone for a battle where governance, identity, pride and political accountability will take centre stage. With both sides digging in, the 2026 contest is shaping up to be one of India’s most closely watched and fiercely fought electoral battles.
