West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday launched a direct counter-offensive against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, inaugurating or laying foundation stones for 1,694 development projects worth Rs 33,551 crore at Singur—the same venue where Modi had addressed a rally just ten days earlier.
In a sharp political riposte, Banerjee targetted the Prime Minister’s governance style and promises. “Many people give big promises but do not keep them. My principle is that I would rather die (than not keep my word). I keep promises 100 per cent. I don’t do jumla,” she said, using the Hindi term for hollow rhetoric. “We are not a dual-engine Government. We are the Government of Ma-Mati-Manush.”
The Chief Minister’s Singur visit marks a strategic political move ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections expected in March or April 2026. Modi had addressed a rally at the same location on January 18, accusing the Trinamool Congress of running a “mahajungle raj” for 15 years and blocking central government schemes.
Among the major announcements, Banerjee inaugurated the Ghatal Master Plan aimed at controlling devastating annual floods in the region. Actor-turned-MP Dipak Adhikari (Dev), who represents Ghatal, praised the Chief Minister’s commitment. “I had been fighting for the Master Plan for 10 years. Nobody kept their word. Only one person did and that is Mamata Banerjee. I thank Didi on behalf of the people of Ghatal,” he said.
Banerjee criticized the Centre for not cooperating with flood control measures. “I have been writing to the Centre for 10 years. They always fooled us. Now, we have fooled them and sanctioned money for the Ghatal Master Plan,” she stated. The project includes work worth Rs 500 crore already completed, with another Rs 1,000 crore to follow soon. By 2027, river dam heights will increase by 50 meters, while canals and rivers will be dug up to 50 kilometres, along with two pump houses, three regulators, and 104 new bridges.
The Chief Minister also announced ambitious housing targets, stating 32 lakh houses will be built under the Banglar Bari scheme over the next two months. “One crore homes have already been built. A few days ago, I gave 12 lakh houses. Delhi has not paid a single rupee,” she said, taking aim at the Centre’s funding.