Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday praised the Election Commission for conducting the first phase of Bengal polls with “minimal violence” and a “record turnout,” attributing the high voter turnout to a “storm of change” sweeping the state.Speaking at a rally in Krishnanagar, Modi said: “In the elections I have seen in the past 50 years, this is the first time there is a poll with minimal violence in Bengal. The EC has established a democratic process here — it is a big achievement.” He said govt officials on poll duty had also played a significant role.Describing the turnout as a rejection of Trinamool, Modi said: “Polling in the first phase shows that women and youth have opened floodgates against TMC. Our mothers and daughters were tortured the most, and women are the harbingers of change this time.” He attributed the surge to a victory of “bharosa” (trust) over “bhay” (fear).Modi also referenced the widely-discussed “jhalmuri episode” at Jhargram — where he had eaten the street snack during a campaign stop — to take a swipe at Trinamool. “Jhalmuri maine khai, jhal TMC ko laga (I had jhalmuri and TMC found it spicy). On May 4, we will distribute both sweets and jhalmuri to celebrate BJP’s win,” he said.Addressing Matua voters — many of whom have seen their names deleted from voter rolls during the Special Intensive Revision — Modi offered reassurance. “No Matua, Namashudra or refugee family should be afraid. Those who were victims of religious persecution have Modi’s support,” he said. He promised to “speed up” the citizenship process under the CAA if the BJP is voted to power.Modi listed 10 guarantees for women, including Rs 36,000 annually and strict action against those accused of crimes against women. He contrasted BJP’s “sabka saath sabka vikas” with what he called Trinamool’s “ghuspetiya ka saath, ghuspetiya ka vikas” (development for infiltrators).He accused Trinamool of shutting thousands of schools despite promising model residential institutions, of blocking the Kalyani AIIMS — which BJP eventually completed — and of failing to deliver piped water. “Those who have looted people will have to return the money,” he said at Mathurapur, setting May 4 as the “expiry date” for what he called “maha jungle raaj” in Bengal. Modi later joined a roadshow in Howrah as part of the party’s intensified outreach ahead of the second phase of polling.
