New Delhi, April 24 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday started his day at the River Hooghly in Kolkata and met with the boatmen. The PM expressed committment to develop the state of West Bengal amid the election season.

In a post on X, the PM reflected on the significance of the holy river Ganga, stating that it flows through "the soul of Bengal." He shared pictures of himself in a boat sailing through the waters of the Hooghly.

"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 opportunity to express gratitude...