"Receiving support in places once considered impossible for BJP": PM Modi lauds BMC polls victory, says 'confident of win in Bengal'

Malda (West Bengal) [India], January 17 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hailed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Mahayuti's victory in the Maharashtra civic body polls, stating that the party is winning in places once considered impossible to gain support.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections saw the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance emerge as the single largest bloc, beating the Thackeray brothers. According to official figures, the BJP won 89 seats, while its alliance partner, the Shinde Sena, secured 29 seats. Mahayuti also swept Thane, Pune, and Pimpri-Chinchwad among the total 29 civic bodies that underwent polling.
Addressing a public meeting in West Bengal's Malda, Prime Minister Modi attributed the victory in the BMC polls and the Thiruvananthapuram local body elections in Kerala to the young voters' trust in the BJP's 'development model'.
He said, "The results of the urban local body elections in Maharashtra were announced yesterday. The BJP has achieved a historic victory in these elections. In particular, the BJP has secured a record victory for the first time in Mumbai, in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), one of the world's largest municipal corporations, which is a significant development in Maharashtra politics. A few days ago, the BJP also elected its first mayor in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala. This shows that even in places where winning elections was once considered impossible for the BJP, the party is now receiving unprecedented support."
Last year, the BJP secured a historic win over the UDF and LDF in the Thiruvananthapuram civic body polls. BJP's VV Rajesh became the first Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation from the party, securing 51 votes with support from 50 BJP councillors and one independent councillor. UDF's KS Sabarinathan got 17 votes, LDF's RP Shivaji 29.
Further, PM Modi said that the BJP's victory in tough areas will also translate into the party securing West Bengal in the Assembly elections later this year.
"This demonstrates the immense trust that the country's voters, the Gen-Z, have in the BJP's development model. Even in areas where lies and rumours were spread about the BJP for years, voters are now giving us their blessings. Seeing your enthusiasm today, I am confident that this time the people of Bengal will also ensure a resounding victory for the BJP," he added.
Earlier today, PM Modi flagged off India's first Vande Bharat sleeper train from Malda in West Bengal. The Vande Bharat Express will operate on the Howrah-Guwahati (Kamakhya) route. His address was a clarion call to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections, as the politics in the state has begun to heat up amid confrontations between the BJP and TMC.
While removing illegal immigrants is a significant plank for the BJP in West Bengal, PM Modi assured the Matua Namasudra community of "complete security" under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.
"Our refugees, the people of the Matua Namasudra community, who have come here to escape religious persecution in neighbouring countries, have nothing to fear. The Constitution grants these fellow citizens the right to live in India. Modi, through the CAA, has provided complete security to these refugees," he said.
The Matua community, predominantly Dalit Hindus who migrated from Bangladesh, holds significant sway in around 80 assembly seats in West Bengal. The BJP has been actively courting this community, promising citizenship through the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). (ANI)