Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a roadshow in West Bengal’s Malda on Friday and expressed his gratitude to the people for turning out in large numbers to attend it.

The PM described the experience as “electrifying,” noting that despite the high temperatures, people braved the heat to attend his roadshow.

He took to social media platform (X) to thank the people for their affection and assured them that his government will always work for their welfare.

Tearing into the ruling Trinamool Congress and the erstwhile Left Front government in the state for putting the brakes on development, PM Modi on Friday said they had wrecked the greatness, global image and dignity of Bengal under their rule.

Addressing a massive rally in Malda district, PM Modi said, “There was a time when Bengal was the engine of the country’s development and progress. Be it social reforms, scientific advancements, as well as philosophical and spiritual thinking and awakening, Bengal led the way. However, the Left Front and the present TMC regime robbed Bengal of its greatness on the global stage and lowered its dignity and prestige in the eyes of the world. Only scams worth thousands of crores are flourishing in Bengal under TMC rule.”

He added that the ruling TMC and the Congress, partners in the INDIA bloc but contesting the ongoing Lok Sabha elections separately in the state, are competing with each other in their ‘appeasement’ politics and attempts to woo a ‘certain’ community.

“The Congress wants to grab your properties and the TMC hasn’t spoken a single word against it. They are competing with each other for appeasement and attempts to win over a certain community or vote bank. While the TMC government has worked to grant permanent residency to infiltrators from Bangladesh, the Congress is talking about redistributing your assets among a certain vote bank,” PM Modi added.

The two seats of Malda Uttar and Malda Dakshin go to the polls in Phase 3 on May 7. The results for all 543 seats will be declared on June 4.