Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a fierce attack on West Bengal’s ruling All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), accusing it of fostering infiltration, eroding law and order, and subverting democratic institutions. He positioned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as a bulwark of “trust and development”, urging voters to spurn the “fear, corruption and misgovernance” he attributed to the TMC.Speaking at an election rally in Cooch Behar, Modi claimed the TMC resists the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to protect infiltrators. He alleged that the party plans to scrap the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), thereby denying citizenship to Hindu refugees while favouring illegal migrants—a move driven by “vote bank politics”.Highlighting concerns over demographic changes in border regions, Modi alleged that infiltrators are being protected and even integrated into local networks under TMC rule. He called the high-stake election as a clear choice between “fear and instability” under TMC and “security and development” under the BJP.The Prime Minister lambasted West Bengal’s governance, noting how the state—once a hub of trade and industry—has withered under Congress, Left Front and now TMC regimes. He accused the current government of dismantling law and order, forcing residents to seek opportunities elsewhere.Accusing the state government of not having respect for constitutional institutional, Modi referred to the Malda incident, alleging that judicial officials were held hostage. “If judges are not safe, how can citizens feel secure?” he asked.On governance and representation, the Prime Minister assured that states performing well in population control would not lose political representation in future delimitation exercises. He also emphasised the need to increase parliamentary representation for women, stating that additional seats would benefit all states.Modi also warned that strict action would be taken against corruption after the elections, asserting that “justice will prevail regardless of how powerful the wrongdoers are.”He said the 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies would start benefiting them from the 2029 parliamentary polls, as he sought to weaken West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s strongest electoral constituency.Addressing his first rally in north Bengal after the poll schedule was announced, Modi turned the sprawling ground in Cooch Behar into a direct appeal to Bengal’s women, invoking the state’s tradition of “Shakti” worship, citing the Sandeshkhali outrage and projecting the BJP as the guarantor of “security, dignity and empowerment” for women.“It is important for the country that women have a greater role in decisions made for the country. Therefore, our government has enacted a law providing 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies,” Modi said.