The national president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Nitin Nabin, on Monday asserted that the forthcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal would be crucial for ensuring the security and integrity of the region “as part of Indian territory.” He was addressing a traders’ meet in Siliguri.
Addressing the members of traders’ and businessmen’s associations, professionals, and prominent citizens at a city hotel, Mr Nabin mounted a sharp attack on the ruling Trinamul Congress (TMC), alleging administrative failure, corruption, and a deteriorating industrial climate in the state.
Recalling his earlier visits to the Durgapur industrial belt, Mr Nabin said the region, once a thriving hub of employment, has witnessed a steady decline. “A friend of mine had secured a job in Durgapur after moving from Bihar. At that time, the industrial ecosystem offered opportunities. Today, not a single major new industrial unit has come up there,” he claimed.
He further alleged that thousands of industries have left the state over the years. “At least 6,000 industrial units have exited West Bengal during the tenure of the Trinamul Congress,” he said.
Targeting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Mr Nabin referred to the controversy surrounding the proposed Tata Motors project, alleging that the state leadership had opposed the initiative, eventually forcing the company to move out. “The Left Front government had attempted to bring Tata Motors to Bengal, but the present Chief Minister resisted the move, depriving the state of large-scale employment opportunities,” he said.
At the outset of his visit, Mr Nabin held an interactive session with representatives of prominent Gorkha organisations and distinguished personalities from the Darjeeling Hills, Terai, and Dooars regions. Emphasising inclusivity, he said, “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are committed to accelerating infrastructure development, expanding economic opportunities, and safeguarding the heritage and identity of the Gorkha community.”
Later in the day, Mr Nabin left for North Dinajpur to flag off the party’s ‘Parivartan Yatra’ from Ishwarpur locally called Islampur.
The BJP leader’s remarks come as political activities intensify across North Bengal ahead of the Assembly elections, with parties sharpening their narratives on governance, development, and regional identity.