BJP gears up for PM Modi’s 12 April rally in Siliguri
The Statesman | 11 April 2026
With electioneering gaining momentum, the BJP has stepped up preparations in North Bengal ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed public meeting in Siliguri on 12 April.
Party leaders said the rally is expected to draw a crowd of around three to four lakh people, with supporters likely to arrive from across Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts, as well as the Dooars region.
Addressing a Press conference, Darjeeling MP Raju Bista said the event would serve as a major mobilisation platform ahead of the Assembly elections. Candidates from all six Assembly segments in Darjeeling district and all constituencies in Jalpaiguri district have been asked to attend.
The Prime Minister will formally introduce the party’s candidates from the stage and seek votes for them.
Senior BJP leaders, including the party’s West Bengal in-charge Mangal Pandey, visited the venue this afternoon to review arrangements. Party sources indicated that large-scale organisational and logistical preparations are underway to manage the anticipated turnout.
Leaders said tea garden workers, local organisations and BJP candidates from across North Bengal are expected to participate. The party is also planning to intensify its campaign in the region with the possible visits of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The rally comes days after Modi addressed his first election meeting in North Bengal from Cooch Behar, signalling the strategic importance the BJP is attaching to the region.
In the 2021 Assembly elections, the BJP had won five of the six seats in Darjeeling district. The party is now eyeing a stronger performance, particularly targeting the Kalimpong seat this time. Party supporters in Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong are closely watching the Prime Minister’s message, especially on hill politics, tea garden issues and regional development.
With the 12 April rally, the BJP aims to consolidate its base in North Bengal and sharpen its campaign narrative as the electoral battle intensifies.