PM Modi likely to visit state this month, hold rallies
The Statesman | 4 January 2026
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit West Bengal again at the beginning of the new year, with the BJP stepping up its campaign ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
According to sources, the Prime Minister is expected to arrive in the state later this month with two public programmes, for which preliminary preparations have already begun.
If plans fall into place, Modi will address two public rallies ~ one in north Bengal and another in south Bengal. Party sources said the tentative schedule includes rallies on January 17 in Malda and January 18 in Howrah.
The Prime Minister is likely to speak at BJP’s Paribartan Sankalp Sabha (resolution for change meetings).
However, state BJP leaders are yet to officially confirm the venues and the Prime Minister’s detailed itinerary. District leaderships in Malda and Howrah have also not made any formal announcement so far.
Political observers see the proposed visit as part of the BJP’s early push to build momentum for the 2026 Assembly polls.
While the ruling Trinamul Congress has already launched its outreach drive from the start of the year, the saffron party, too, is looking to raise the pitch by bringing top national leaders, including the Prime Minister, to the state.
Earlier, Modi was scheduled to address a rally on 20 December at Taherpur in Krishnanagar, a Matua-dominated area.
The rally had drawn attention in the backdrop of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, after several Matua names were reportedly excluded from the initial draft.
However, due to dense fog, the Prime Minister’s helicopter could not land in Krishnanagar, and he addressed the gathering virtually from Dum Dum airport.
During that address, Modi had promised to visit Taherpur and meet the people in person at a later date.
There is also a speculation that Krishnanagar could also feature in the Prime Minister’s January itinerary, apart from Malda and Howrah.
However, there is no official confirmation on his Krishnanagar visit so far.
Meanwhile, Trinamul Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has rolled out a month-long state-wide programme titled “Abar Jitbe Bangla” (Bengal Will Win Again), undertaking district-wise public outreach throughout January.
In response, the BJP is gearing up for an aggressive campaign from the very start of the year, with Modi’s proposed Bengal visit expected to mark the launch of its high-voltage poll push, political circles believe.