Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Trinamool Congress of blocking the Women’s Reservation Bill in Parliament by aligning with the Congress, a charge he repeated at a rally in Bishnupur, West Bengal, on April 19, 2026.
Speaking at the Vijay Sankalp Sabha, Modi said the TMC’s opposition during the bill’s consideration dashed the hopes of Bengal’s women and daughters for greater political representation. He framed the Bharatiya Janata Party as the true champion of women’s empowerment, citing its consistent efforts to increase female participation in politics and nation-building.
Modi also invoked President Droupadi Murmu during his address, noting that while she commands respect nationally and internationally, questions arise about her treatment when she visits West Bengal, referencing an unspecified incident during her past visit to the state that he said was witnessed by the entire country.
The rally formed part of the BJP’s broader electoral push in West Bengal ahead of the 2026 polls, where the party is seeking to challenge the TMC’s stronghold by emphasizing social welfare legislation it claims the regional party has obstructed.
Meanwhile, in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu began a two-day campaign tour on April 20, 2026, as part of the NDA’s intensified outreach ahead of state elections. His itinerary included public meetings in Coimbatore, Hosur, and Thalli on the first day, followed by a roadshow in Avadi, Chennai, where he engaged directly with voters and NDA supporters.
On the second day, Naidu was scheduled to visit Madurai and Sattur, holding discussions with community leaders before participating in a key election-related event in the afternoon.
The simultaneous political activity in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu illustrates the NDA’s coordinated strategy to expand its influence in southern and eastern states, using both criticism of rivals and direct voter engagement to build momentum.
The BJP’s narrative positions the TMC as antagonistic to both national leadership and gender equity, a framing that could resonate in constituencies where voter dissatisfaction with the incumbent regime is growing, though the TMC has not publicly responded to these specific allegations as of the reporting period.
In Tamil Nadu, the NDA’s campaign faces an uphill battle against the entrenched DMK-AIMIM alliance, but Naidu’s tour signals a bid to strengthen local party structures and attract floating voters through visibility and direct contact, a tactic that has yielded mixed results in previous state elections.
What specific incident involving President Murmu in West Bengal did Modi reference?
The sources do not detail the nature of the incident Modi alluded to when he said the nation witnessed what occurred when President Murmu visited Bengal; only his assertion that it raised questions about her treatment by the TMC is recorded.
Has the Women’s Reservation Bill been implemented since its passage?
The bill’s passage into law does not automatically trigger implementation; delimitation and seat reservation procedures are pending, with actual application expected in future delimitation exercises, likely after the 2026 census data is processed.