Modi highlighted the BJP’s historic win in Mumbai’s BMC elections and the first-ever BJP mayor in Thiruvananthapuram, framing the results as a reflection of public trust.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi | January 18, 2026 —Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday hailed what he described as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s sustained electoral momentum, asserting that the BJP has emerged as the country’s “first choice” over the past one-and-a-half years.
Addressing a public event, the Prime Minister pointed to a series of recent electoral victories, saying the party’s upward trajectory had continued despite a temporary setback in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
“Over the last year and a half, the people of the country have repeatedly placed their trust in the BJP. The party is on a continuous rise and has become the first choice across India,” Modi said, according to ANI.
Citing recent polls, Modi highlighted the BJP’s strong performance in Bihar, where the party secured a record mandate, and its breakthrough victories in key municipal elections. He described the BJP’s win in Mumbai’s Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)—one of the world’s largest civic bodies—as historic, marking the party’s first-ever control of the corporation.
The people of Maharashtra’s major cities have given the BJP an opportunity to serve. Not long ago, even in the far south, the people of Kerala gave strong support to the BJP. For the first time, the BJP has got a mayor there, and today the BJP is serving in Kerala’s capital,… pic.twitter.com/o17418Eki9
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) January 18, 2026
The Prime Minister also pointed to gains in Kerala’s municipal elections, noting that Thiruvananthapuram elected its first BJP mayor, a milestone in a state traditionally dominated by the Left and the Congress.
Taking aim at the Congress, Modi accused the party of enabling illegal infiltration in Assam during its years in power for electoral gain. He alleged that unchecked infiltration had led to encroachment of forest land, wildlife corridors, and traditional institutions in the northeastern state.
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“The BJP government is committed to protecting Assam’s identity and culture. We are taking action against those who illegally encroached on land,” Modi said while addressing a gathering in Kaliabor.
Referring again to the Bihar results, Modi said voters had reaffirmed their faith in the BJP’s governance model even after two decades in power in the state.
The Prime Minister’s remarks come days after the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance wrested control of the BMC from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction. The Mahayuti crossed the halfway mark in the 227-member civic body, with the BJP winning 89 seats and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena securing 29. The Uddhav Thackeray–Raj Thackeray alliance won 71 seats, retaining influence in several Marathi-dominated wards but falling short of power.
During his Assam visit, Modi laid the foundation stone for the ₹6,957-crore Kaziranga Elevated Corridor project and performed the ‘Bhoomi Poojan’ for the initiative. The project aims to facilitate safe wildlife movement across Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, reduce accidents on National Highway-715, boost eco-tourism, and generate local employment.
The elevated corridor forms part of the four-laning of the Kaliabor–Numaligarh stretch of NH-715 and includes over 34 km of wildlife-friendly elevated sections, along with bypasses at Jakhalabandha and Bokakhat.
The Prime Minister also virtually flagged off two Amrit Bharat Express trains—between Dibrugarh and Gomti Nagar (Lucknow), and between Kamakhya and Rohtak—during the event.
Modi concluded his Assam visit in Nagaon district, reviewing project models and reiterating the government’s focus on infrastructure-led development and regional connectivity.
