Singur, West Bengal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive in Singur, Hooghly district today, on January 18, 2026, for a high-decibel public rally and the launch of a major infrastructure project. The visit is being viewed as the unofficial “poll bugle” for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly Elections, which are scheduled to take place this March and April.
The Prime Minister’s choice of venue is deeply symbolic. Singur was the epicentre of the 2006–2008 anti-land acquisition movement that eventually drove Tata Motors’ Nano project to Sanand, Gujarat, where PM Modi was then the Chief Minister.
Key Infrastructure Highlights: The ₹830 Crore Boost
Before addressing the political gathering at Singher Bheri, the Prime Minister will virtually inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for several projects aimed at transforming West Bengal’s logistics and transit landscape:
- Balagarh Extended Port Gate System: A mega-project spanning 900 acres with a capacity of 2.7 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). It includes an Inland Water Transport (IWT) terminal to decongest Kolkata’s roads.
- Vande Bharat & Amrit Bharat Trains: The PM will flag off three new Amrit Bharat Express trains (Howrah-Anand Vihar, Sealdah-Banaras, and Santragachi-Tambaram). This follows Saturday’s launch of India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper between Howrah and Guwahati.
- New Rail Connectivity: Inauguration of the Jayrambati-Maynapur line, providing a vital link for pilgrims and commuters in the Bankura and Hooghly districts.
- Electric Catamaran: Launch of a zero-emission hybrid-electric vessel in Kolkata to promote eco-tourism on the Hooghly River.
Political Stakes: “Bringing Tata Back”
The BJP has centered its campaign on the “lost glory” of West Bengal’s industrial sector. Union Minister of State and former state president Sukanta Majumdar stated that the exit of the Nano project was a “stigma” that ruined the state’s investment potential for decades.
“Our aim is to bring back the Tata Group to Singur. If the BJP comes to power in 2026, we will ensure West Bengal returns to its status as an ideal investment hub,” Majumdar said during rally preparations.
The TMC’s Counter: The ruling Trinamool Congress, led by CM Mamata Banerjee, remains dismissive of the BJP’s narrative. Party spokespersons argue that the Singur movement was a victory for farmers’ rights against “forcible acquisition,” a stance they say was vindicated by the Supreme Court’s 2016 order to return the land to its original owners.
Election 2026: The Battle Begins
With the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls currently underway, both parties are in high gear.
- The Numbers: In the 2021 elections, the TMC won 215 seats with 48% of the vote, while the BJP secured 77 seats with 38%.
- The Strategy: PM Modi’s visit comes amid a political firestorm following recent ED raids and disputes over voter list deletions. By focusing on Singur, the BJP hopes to woo the “aspirational” voter who prioritizes industrialization and jobs over the state’s current welfare-centric model.
