Kolkata, 5 February 2014

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s Kolkata speech may increase his fan following by double fold in Bengal. Most of the local dailies are likely to cover Modi’s speech prominently on Thursday.

Modi in his speech crushed the idea of third front. He said the western part of India is prosperous compared to eastern coast because there’s no third front there.

Modi lambasted secularists by comparing the figures of Haj pilgrims in Gujarat and Bengal. He also raised the issue of infiltration from Bangladesh.

Modi catered Pranab Mukherjee for discussion. He said, “When Indira Gandhi died, Pranab Mukherjee was the senior most minister, he could be made PM, but instead of Pranabda, Rajiv Gandhi was made PM. Later when Sonia refused to become PM, Pranabda could be made PM, but he was again denied the opportunity. Bengal should not forget this.”

Modi coined a slogan, “Tum Mujhe Saath Do, Mein Tumhein Surajya Doonga.”

Modi received amazing response when he asked crowd to chant cholbe na cholbe na.

Modi: Yuva ki berojgari
Bengal: Cholbe na, , Cholbe na
Modi: Roj roj hartal
Bengal: Cholbe na, , Cholbe na
Modi: Gundagiri ki rajniti
Bengal: Cholbe na, Cholbe na
Modi: Bhrast shashan
Bengal: Cholbe na, Cholbe na
Modi: Bijli bina andhera
Bengal: Cholbe na, Cholbe na
Modi: Maa Behno ki asuraksha
Bengal: Cholbe na, Cholbe na

Modi demanded all seats from Bengal for BJP. He said, “help me bring back Sonar Bangla.”

Political commentator Shashi Shekhar reacted to Modi’s speech on Twitter: Can’t remember the last non-Bengali politician making “Bengali pride” a campaign issue.