Battleground Singur: BJP, TMC hold rallies ahead of PM’s rally in pol hotspot
Times of India | 18 January 2026
Singur/Kolkata: Once at the centre of Bengal's political narrative over because of the land movement, Singur is back in focus with both BJP and Trinamool — the state's two main political players — planning Saturday's activities around PM Narendra Modi's public rally on Sunday.
While Bengal BJP netas were busy overseeing the preparation for Modi's address and brought out rallies, Trinamool staged protests against the alleged use of land for the rally site without consent. Modi is scheduled to address the gathering at 3.30pm on Sunday after inaugurating a host of infrastructure projects involving an investment of Rs 830 crore. Police said 4,000 personnel will be deployed to man the rally site.
In the last few days, state BJP netas have been building narratives around industrialisation and the exit of Tata Motors from Bengal. Preparations were afoot at the rally site — locally known as ‘Tatar Math' — which once hosted the main factory shed of the proposed Nano plant. On Saturday morning, BJP workers took out a bike rally in Kamarkundu. Junior Union minister Sukanta Majumdar went to Singur on Thursday to invite locals to the PM's event and said Bengal would now have to choose between "doles and Tata".
President of BJP's Hoohly organistaional district, Gautam Chattaerjee, said: "It is going to be a memorable day tomorrow. Tatas were driven out of the state after a lawless situation was created in Singur. We will try to bring them back if voted to office."
Trinamool on Saturday staged a street corner meeting near the site, alleging that land of 46 farmers had been used for the rally site without their consent.
TMC spokesperson Jaiprakash Majumdar, present at the rally site, said, "India is a democracy, but BJP netas behave like zamindars during the British Raj. They used the land of farmers without their consent."
"We are not against industrialisation, but we have to be careful in choosing the investor for Singur. PM Modi will have to answer why the Sanand factory was shut down," said state minister Becharam Manna at the street corner.