Modi's Bengal Rally: A Reversal of Fortunes as BJP Taps into Singur's Industrial Legacy
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Twenty years ago, the fertile plains of Singur in West Bengal sparked a revolution that brought Mamata Banerjee to power, ousting the 34-year-old Left Front regime. Now, the site of the abandoned Nano factory is at the center of the state's high-stakes election rhetoric. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who provided an alternative home for the Nano project, will lead a massive rally in Singur on January 18, aiming to reverse the fortunes of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the state's economy. The BJP is framing Singur as a symbol of 'de-industrialisation', highlighting the state's alleged decline under the TMC. The party recently released a booklet, 'West Bengal: Industrialisation Graveyard', showcasing Singur as a prime example of the state's industrial stagnation. Modi's rally is an opportunity to contrast the Bengal model 'of agitation' with his own Gujarat model 'of rapid industrial growth'. Modi's trajectory from welcoming Tata to Singur stage is a crucial aspect of his narrative. In 2008, he sent a one-word SMS to Ratan Tata: 'Welcome', facilitating the Nano project's shift to Gujarat. The 'Sanand gain' became a key pillar of Modi's 2014 national campaign, showcasing him as a pro-business leader. Now, as Prime Minister, Modi is returning to Singur, arguing that he can 're-industrialise' West Bengal. However, the TMC is fighting an image assault, with Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari describing the anti-land acquisition movements as a 'mistake' that led to a 'corrupt, dynastic' regime. The TMC has disputed the allegations, claiming that the Singur rally represents a direct assault on Mamata Banerjee's political identity. Her 'Maa, Mati, Manush' slogan was born in the agitations of Singur and Nandigram, and she has since spent years attempting to shed the 'anti-industry' label. The ongoing election campaign has been marked by tensions between the TMC and BJP, with the two parties facing off over issues like the central agency ED's raid on I-PAC's premises and the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls. As the election approaches, the stakes are high, and the BJP's efforts to tap into Singur's industrial legacy are being closely watched.
