Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Alipurduar in North Bengal on Thursday, marking his first official trip to West Bengal since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The visit included a dual agenda, an administrative programme and a political rally, underscoring the district’s strategic and political significance.
In a significant development for North Bengal, PM Modi laid the foundation stone for the City Gas Distribution (CGD) project in Alipurduar and neighbouring Cooch Behar.
The foundation stone for the City Gas Distribution Project, which is being laid today in Alipurduar, highlights our commitment to strengthening the region’s clean energy infrastructure.
https://t.co/2it69hLGrr— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 29, 2025
The project, valued at over ₹1,010 crore, will supply Piped Natural Gas (PNG) to more than 2.5 lakh households, over 100 commercial entities, and industrial units.
The project will also establish around 19 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations across the region.
This initiative aligns with the Centre’s push for clean energy and improved living standards, as it fulfils the Minimum Work Program targets set by the Union Government.
The CGD project will provide long-term benefits to local residents and businesses by improving fuel accessibility and promoting cleaner alternatives.
Political Rally Highlights ‘Operation Sindoor’
Following the administrative programme, the Prime Minister addressed a BJP rally in Alipurduar.
Here, the PM lauded the success of ‘Operation Sindoor’, India’s recent military strike targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
PM Modi’s remarks highlighted India’s decisive defence stance and were met with enthusiastic applause from attendees.
Political analysts believe that Alipurduar’s strategic location, near the Chicken Neck Corridor and close to the Northeast, influenced the decision to host both events there.
“Alipurduar is the gateway to the Northeast. Its geopolitical relevance makes it a symbolic venue for both administrative announcements and political messaging,” noted a city-based political expert.
At the rally, PM Modi did not hold back his criticism of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).
He accused the state government of widespread corruption and administrative failure.
A day before his visit, PM Modi posted on X (formerly Twitter) that people in Bengal have widely appreciated the NDA’s schemes over the past decade and are now tired of the TMC’s corruption and misrule.
I will be addressing a BJP West Bengal public meeting in Alipurduar tomorrow afternoon. Over the last decade, the various schemes of the NDA Government have been greatly appreciated by the people of West Bengal. At the same time, they are tired of the corruption and poor…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 28, 2025
Observers are keenly watching for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s reaction, particularly if PM Modi’s remarks trigger a fresh political confrontation between the Centre and the state.
With development and security taking centre stage, PM Modi’s Alipurduar visit sets the tone for renewed focus on infrastructure and political engagement in Bengal’s northern districts.
The CGD project and the rally collectively reinforce the BJP’s dual strategy of development and accountability in the region.
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