With an eye on both the political landscape of North Bengal and the evolving geopolitical equations in eastern India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Alipurduar on 29 May. This marks the PM’s first visit to Bengal since Operation Sindoor and blends strategic messaging with a clear political objective—launching the BJP's campaign for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections from its stronghold in the northern region of the state.
North Bengal remains one of the few regions in West Bengal where the BJP has made significant electoral inroads. In the 2021 Assembly elections, the party won 30 out of the region’s 54 seats, while in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, it secured 7 out of 8 parliamentary seats. Even amid a slight dip in the 2024 general elections, the BJP retained 6 seats, reaffirming its deep roots in the region.
Alipurduar, specifically, has been a strong bastion for the saffron party. According to BJP leaders, the Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to the Parade Ground in Alipurduar will act as the symbolic launch of the party’s campaign for the 2026 polls. “This meeting is the beginning,” said Alipurduar MP Manoj Tigga, expressing confidence that the BJP will perform even better than in previous elections, banking on public dissatisfaction with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) over corruption and governance issues.
Strategically, Alipurduar lies close to the northeastern corridor of India and shares proximity with both China and Bangladesh. With tensions and diplomacy constantly evolving in the region, the choice of Alipurduar as the venue appears well calculated.
Following the success of Operation Sindoor—a recent counterterrorism operation launched in response to the 22 April Pahalgam attack in Kashmir—the visit allows Modi to send a message beyond domestic politics. While the previous show of strength was at the western border from Adampur Air Force Base, this visit to the eastern frontier enables the Prime Minister to signal India's military readiness and regional posture to both Beijing and Dhaka.
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The Hasimara Air Force Station, where Modi will land, is home to a Rafale squadron and is regarded as a vital defence installation. Though his official schedule does not confirm it, there is speculation that the Prime Minister may interact privately with Air Force officers stationed there. The visit underscores India’s strategic intent to remain vigilant on both military and diplomatic fronts, especially in a region witnessing increased infrastructural and military build-up by China.
For the BJP, this visit is as much about consolidating geopolitical symbolism as it is about reigniting grassroots enthusiasm. “People are fed up with the corruption in the state,” said Tigga, adding, “This rally will send a message not just to China or Bangladesh, but also to the TMC, that North Bengal is firmly with Modi.”
Modi’s previous visits to Alipurduar—first in 2011 as Gujarat’s Chief Minister and later as Prime Minister—have historically rallied support for the BJP in Bengal. This time, the rally is expected to be bigger and more politically charged, laying the groundwork for a critical election year ahead.
As Indo-Bangladesh relations continue to navigate sensitive issues such as border management, illegal migration and river water sharing, Modi’s presence near the international border also signals Delhi’s intent to keep diplomatic matters in the public spotlight.
With the BJP aiming to protect its turf and the TMC attempting to regain control over the region, Alipurduar is shaping up to be more than just a campaign stop. It is the convergence point of electoral strategy, public mobilisation and geopolitical signalling—a clear indication that the road to 2026 has already begun.
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