PM Modi Visits Hooghly River Banks, Expresses Gratitude to Maa Ganga Amid West Bengal Assembly Elections

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a personal post on X today morning, capturing his time on the banks of the Hooghly River in Kolkata. “Ganga occupies a very special place for every Bengali. One can say that the Ganga flows through the soul of Bengal. Her divine waters carry the timeless spirit of an entire civilisation,” he wrote, emphasising the river’s sacred role in Bengali culture. PM Modi described expressing gratitude to Maa Ganga, meeting hardworking boatmen and morning walkers and reaffirming his commitment to West Bengal’s development and the prosperity of its people. In a follow-up, he added glimpses of the river, including his own photographs of Vidyasagar Setu and Howrah Bridge, blending spirituality with the iconic landscape. He shared a heartfelt reflection on X, noting that “for every Bengali, the Ganga occupies a very special place… flows through the soul of Bengal,” after spending time on Kolkata’s Hooghly banks to express gratitude to Maa Ganga. He met admirable boatmen and morning walkers, while reiterating his commitment to West Bengal’s development and the prosperity of its people. The Prime Minister also tried his hand at photography and shared some glimpses from the banks of the Hooghly River, Vidyasagar Setu and Howrah Bridge. Sharing the pictures in a separate post on X, PM Modi wrote, “Some more glimpses from the banks of the Hooghly. Tried my hand at photographing this great river. Also caught a close glimpse of the Vidyasagar Setu and Howrah Bridge.” For every Bengali, the Ganga occupies a very special place. One can say that the Ganga flows through the soul of Bengal. Her divine waters carry the timeless spirit of an entire civilisation. This morning in Kolkata, I spent some time on the banks of the Hooghly river, an… pic.twitter.com/I3Y0gsFl3E — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 24, 2026 Modi’s visit to the Hooghly wasn’t just a moment of reverence; it doubled as a platform to connect with everyday Bengalis amid the ongoing West Bengal assembly elections. His interactions with boatmen highlighted their admirable diligence, while his pledge for state progress underscored the BJP’s vision for a “double-engine government.” The post’s timing, during the first phase of polling on 152 seats (with over 77% turnout by 3:30 PM), amplified its resonance—coming right after his rallies in Mathurapur and Krishnanagar, where he rallied crowds with cries of “Paltano Dorkar” (change is needed). Tying his serene riverside reflections to the political fervour, PM Modi’s X update contrasted Bengal’s cultural heritage with TMC’s alleged misrule. In nearby poll rallies, he accused the ruling party of usurping women’s rights, protecting goons in incidents like RG Kar and Sandeshkhali and stifling development through syndicates and corruption. Promising accountability post-May 4 results, he envisioned BJP transforming Bengal into a fish export hub, uplifting fishermen and turning events like Bhanga Mela into Swachh Bharat pride.