Modi attacks state governments, unveils Rs 18,680 crore Bengal projects

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said state governments were not supporting a women’s reservation bill and said the connectivity projects would total Rs 18,680 crore in Bengal ahead of elections.

The remarks matter because India's major state elections are scheduled for later this year, and the prime minister’s comments turn a recent parliamentary defeat into a partisan issue. By tying the failure to back the women’s reservation bill to a missed political opportunity, Modi seeks to pressure opposition parties while positioning his own coalition as the champion of gender‑focused reforms.

Modi said the state governments missed a chance to back women’s empowerment. The women's reservation bill, which would have set aside 33 percent of seats in Parliament and state assemblies for women, was defeated in the Lok Sabha last week. The prime minister said that the TMC‑led West Bengal government and the DMK‑led Tamil Nadu administration should have seized the moment to champion the cause, rather than remain silent.

In a separate segment of the televised address, Modi said a suite of connectivity projects in West Bengal worth Rs 18,680 crore. The plan includes new highways, railway upgrades, and river‑transport links intended to boost trade and create jobs ahead of the state polls. He said the connectivity projects total Rs 18,680 crore, framing the investment as a tangible benefit for voters.

Political analysts said that the timing aligns with the prime minister’s broader strategy to consolidate support in swing states. By highlighting infrastructure spending, the central government hopes to sway undecided voters who may be weighing development promises against local governance concerns.

The criticism also serves to underline the central government’s narrative that opposition‑run states are out of step with national priorities. As parties campaign, the issue of women’s representation and large‑scale infrastructure will likely feature in rallies and advertisements, influencing voter perceptions across the region.

**What this means** – Modi’s dual approach of attacking rival state governments while promising substantial investment is designed to reshape the electoral calculus ahead of the upcoming West Bengal and Tamil Nadu elections. The emphasis on women’s reservation and connectivity projects seeks to portray the central government as both progressive on gender issues and committed to economic development, potentially shifting voter loyalty toward the ruling coalition.