'Does Modi want to remain PM or become Bengal CM?' Kharge questions Modi over 'extensive' campaigning

Amid the ongoing election campaign in West Bengal, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing a public rally in Cooch Behar. Questioning the Prime Minister’s extensive campaigning in the state, Kharge said, “Does Modi want to become West Bengal CM or want to remain PM,” raising concerns over the scale of his election engagements.

Targeting the Prime Minister over the Women’s Reservation Bill, Kharge said, “It was PM Modi who killed the women’s quota bill, not the Opposition; we opposed only the delimitation bill.” He accused the government of linking the bill with delimitation, which, according to him, was the primary reason for the Opposition’s resistance, while rejecting claims that Opposition parties were responsible for its failure.

Continuing his criticism, Kharge alleged that the Prime Minister has been excessively focused on campaigning in West Bengal. He said, “PM Modi travelling across Bengal for long, neglecting his official work,” suggesting that governance responsibilities were being sidelined due to election-related activities. His remarks come at a time when political rhetoric has intensified ahead of polling in the state.