Bengali residents in Jamnagar rally ahead of PM Modi's Gujarat visit
Synopsis
Bengali families settled in Jamnagar turned out in force at Lal Bungalow Circle ahead of PM Modi's arrival, channelling pride over BJP's Bengal result into a public call for the state to replicate Gujarat's three-decade development story — a grassroots signal of shifting political sentiment among the Bengali diaspora.
Key Takeaways
Bengali residents gathered at Lal Bungalow Circle, Jamnagar on 10 May ahead of PM Modi's arrival in the city.
Residents expressed hope that West Bengal would replicate Gujarat's development model following BJP's recent electoral gains in the state.
Residents cited women's safety, education, and economic progress as key aspirations for Bengal.
PM Modi is on a two-day Gujarat visit , with programmes at Somnath and Vadodara scheduled for Monday.
He will attend the Somnath Amrut Mahotsav marking 75 years of the restored Somnath Temple and inaugurate Sardardham Hostel in Vadodara.
Bengali residents settled in Jamnagar gathered in large numbers at Lal Bungalow Circle on Sunday evening, 10 May, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's arrival in the city, voicing hope that West Bengal would follow Gujarat's development trajectory following the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s recent electoral performance in the state.
Warm Welcome on the Streets
Residents originally from West Bengal but long settled in Jamnagar lined the roads leading to the public meeting venue, carrying placards, chanting patriotic slogans, and wearing traditional attire. The atmosphere resonated with chants of
Point of View
And the Modi camp will be keen to amplify these voices as it works to consolidate its foothold in a state long dominated by the Trinamool Congress. The aspirations voiced — women's safety, education, economic pace — are precisely the governance gaps TMC's critics have long highlighted. Whether Bengal's political ground has genuinely shifted, or whether this is diaspora enthusiasm outpacing ground reality, remains the critical question.
NationPress
11 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Bengali residents gather in Jamnagar ahead of PM Modi's visit?
Bengali families settled in Jamnagar gathered at Lal Bungalow Circle on 10 May to welcome PM Modi ahead of his Gujarat visit and to express hope that West Bengal would develop along the lines of Gujarat following BJP's recent electoral gains in Bengal.
What did Bengali residents in Jamnagar say they wanted for West Bengal?
Residents cited development at the same pace as Gujarat, along with women's safety and better education, as their key aspirations for West Bengal. Several drew comparisons with Gujarat's progress over the past three decades.
What is PM Modi's schedule during his two-day Gujarat visit?
PM Modi arrived in Jamnagar late Sunday night and is scheduled to attend the Somnath Amrut Mahotsav — marking 75 years of the restored Somnath Temple — and inaugurate the Sardardham Hostel in Vadodara on Monday, according to the Prime Minister's Office.
What is the Somnath Amrut Mahotsav?
The Somnath Amrut Mahotsav is a celebration marking 75 years since the restoration of the Somnath Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines in India. PM Modi is scheduled to participate in the event during his Gujarat visit on Monday.
Who are some of the Bengali residents who spoke at the Jamnagar gathering?
Advocate Sanjeev Chatterjee, who was born and raised in Jamnagar, said he hoped Bengal would see Gujarat-like progress. Dolly Mukherjee called for women's safety and education in Bengal, while Aaveri Haldar, a decade-long Jamnagar resident, described BJP's Bengal victory as a proud moment and said she had made a pencil sketch of the Prime Minister ahead of his visit.
