Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a stern warning to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) during a speech on Friday, stating that following the May 4 election outcomes, individuals associated with the party’s alleged strong-arm tactics would have nowhere to seek refuge in West Bengal, and no protection would be available to them.
He emphasized that upon the formation of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, investigations into all reported cases of wrongdoing and mistreatment against the state’s residents would be initiated. ‘I assure you, those records will be examined—this is my commitment,’ Modi declared.
The previous evening, Modi claimed, the TMC had been bolstering its enforcers throughout the night. He urged West Bengal’s residents, BJP supporters, and the general public to remember the region’s history of resistance and courage. ‘Once the results are announced on May 4, those TMC operatives will have no safe haven or rescuers. The initial voting phase yesterday has marked the decline of the TMC’s era of lawlessness,’ he stated.
Speaking at an event in Dum Dum, Modi highlighted that the unprecedented participation in the first round of voting signaled the conclusion of what he called the TMC’s period of unchecked disorder.
He also noted that the elevated voter engagement in this phase represented a triumph for democratic principles and demonstrated robust confidence in the voting system. Modi suggested that this level of involvement had caused concern among opponents, pointing to an increasing public call for transformation.
‘I extend my congratulations to the citizens of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. The turnout in Bengal’s opening election phase has validated the momentum for change we’ve observed in the state. The backing for the BJP evident yesterday points to our success,’ he added.
Modi referenced the 92.89 percent voter participation in West Bengal’s first election phase, an increase of more than 10 percentage points from 2021, describing it as the highest in the state since India’s independence. This stage included 152 assembly seats in 16 districts.
Additionally, he mentioned that a BJP-led administration in Bengal would focus on enhancing conditions for the middle class, referencing federal initiatives. He pointed out that annual earnings up to Rs 12 lakh are now exempt from income tax, in contrast to the Rs 2 lakh threshold prior to 2014, when the central government received backing from the TMC.
‘To improve the quality of life for the middle class, the national government has implemented various policies over the last 11 years. Before 2014, during the period when Delhi’s administration relied on TMC support, taxes applied to incomes as low as Rs 2 lakh annually… We have introduced a tax exemption for incomes up to Rs 12 lakh per year,’ he explained.
