'Misrule, chaos, corruption': PM Modi targets Mamata-led TMC govt in 'Poila Boishakh' message

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday wrote a letter to the people of West Bengal on the occasion of 'Poila Boishakh', extending greetings and launching a sharp attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government.In his letter, the Prime Minister accused the state government of corruption, misrule and failing to safeguard the rights of ordinary citizens. "For the past 15 years, West Bengal has witnessed misrule, chaos, and corruption, which have deprived ordinary people of their basic rights, dignity, and the rich cultural heritage of the state," PM Modi said. He added that the current environment had compromised "the safety of mothers and sisters, employment opportunities for the youth, and the rights of the poor."Invoking the state’s legacy, PM Modi said West Bengal had once shown a new direction to the country and called for a collective resolve to build a “developed West Bengal"."Let us all come together and take a pledge to build a ‘developed West Bengal’, where no poor person sleeps hungry, everyone has access to food, women feel safe and can step out of their homes without fear, and the youth do not have to leave the state in search of employment," he said.The Prime Minister also linked the state’s future to the outcome of the upcoming assembly elections, asserting that a BJP government would put West Bengal back on the path of development."I assure you that after the formation of a BJP government in the state, West Bengal will move forward hand in hand with the rest of the country on the path of development and reclaim its place in history as a ‘developed state,’” he wrote.Framing the election as a decisive moment, PM Modi urged voters to "take the right decision", calling it "a fight between truth and falsehood" and appealing for participation in what he described as the "festival of democracy".The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the people of West Bengal would support the BJP and enable what he termed a "historic victory".West Bengal is scheduled to vote in two phases on April 23 and 29, with counting on May 4. In the 2021 assembly elections, the Trinamool Congress secured a landslide victory with 213 seats, while the BJP won 77 seats. The Congress and the Left failed to open their account.