Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a major BJP rally in Singur, West Bengal today, January 18, 2026.
This rally is politically significant as it took place at the site of the abandoned Tata Nano factory, which was the epicenter of the 2006 anti-land acquisition movement that helped propel Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to power.
Key Highlights of the Rally:
Symbolic Location: The BJP chose the site of the abandoned Tata Nano plant to attack the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government on the issue of industrial stagnation. The party is using the "lost industry" narrative to argue that the 2006 agitation drove jobs away from Bengal.
Development Push: During the visit, PM Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for development projects worth approximately ₹830 crore. These include:
An Extended Port Gate System at Balagarh.
A new rail line between Jayrambati and Maynapur.
Flagging off new train services and an electric catamaran in Kolkata.
Political Narrative: The BJP has promised to "bring industry back" to Singur if voted to power in the upcoming 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. Leaders have specifically mentioned aiming to bring major industrial players like Tata back to the state.
Counter-Narrative: The TMC maintains that the Singur movement was about protecting farmers' rights against forcible land acquisition, citing the Supreme Court verdict that declared the acquisition illegal. They argue the BJP is ignoring the rights of the farmers who fought for their land.
This visit follows the Prime Minister's rally in Malda yesterday, where he flagged off the Howrah-Guwahati Vande Bharat Sleeper train and criticized the state government on issues of infiltration and corruption.





