PM Modi Plays Bihar’s ‘Jungle Raj’ Card in Bengal, Calls for Real Change

Singur, West Bengal: As West Bengal gears up for its Assembly elections, the BJP has strategically borrowed the “Jungle Raj” narrative from Bihar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a rally in Singur, invoked the term Maha Jungle Raj to highlight alleged misgovernance under the Trinamool Congress (TMC), aiming to shape a strong electoral narrative.

The campaign draws parallels with Bihar, where the term “Jungle Raj” became a political flashpoint during Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi’s tenure. The narrative, emphasizing lawlessness and governance failure, contributed to the NDA’s electoral resurgence in Bihar, securing victories across four Assembly and four Lok Sabha elections. Modi and other BJP leaders have repeatedly referenced “Jungle Raj” to contrast with BJP’s governance model.

Setting the Election Narrative in Bengal
In his Singur rally, PM Modi described Mamata Banerjee’s 15-year rule as Maha Jungle Raj and called for “real power change” in West Bengal. Earlier, in Malda, he stressed the need to end TMC’s alleged “misrule,” coining the slogan: “Paltano Darkar, Chahiye BJP Sarkar” (Time for a Change, We Want a BJP Government).

Unlike the 2021 campaign, Modi deliberately avoided personal attacks such as the “Didi O Didi” strategy, which had previously backfired by being perceived as an affront to Bengali pride. Instead, the BJP focused on governance issues including law and order, women’s safety, illegal immigration, and corruption. Modi assured voters that under a BJP “double-engine” government, illegal activities would be curbed, educational institutions strengthened, and economic development and investment encouraged.

He emphasized that a stable law-and-order environment is essential for attracting industries and ensuring the safety and well-being of citizens. The PM pointed to rampant mafia activity, unchecked syndicate taxes, and alleged collusion between local authorities and criminals, asserting that only a BJP government could restore law and governance.

With the “Jungle Raj” rhetoric, the BJP aims to replicate its Bihar strategy in Bengal, shifting the focus from personal leadership critiques to systemic governance failures, promising voters real change and development.