PM Modi predicts BJP ‘hat-trick’ in five-state polls, targets Congress and SP in Hardoi rally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday claimed that the BJP is set to score a “hat-trick” of victories in the upcoming five-state polls, while accusing the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP) of being “anti-development” and “anti-women.”

He made these remarks after inaugurating the 594-km-long Ganga Expressway here.

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The Prime Minister said that the BJP-NDA had recently secured a landslide victory in Bihar, creating history. “Just yesterday, the results of local body elections in Gujarat—covering municipal corporations, municipalities, district panchayats, town councils and tehsil panchayats—were announced.

The BJP won 80 to 85 per cent of municipalities and panchayats. I am confident that the BJP is going to score a hat-trick of historic victories in these five states as well. The results of May 4 will strengthen the resolve for a developed India and inject new energy into the country’s development,” he said.

Modi also claimed that voting in West Bengal is taking place in a “fearless environment,” unlike in the past. “People are voting without fear. This reflects the strength of the Constitution and India’s democracy. I express my gratitude to the people of Bengal for being conscious of their rights and voting in large numbers,” he said.

He added that the second phase of polling in the state was witnessing a strong turnout, with long queues of voters being seen across polling stations.

Referring to the Women’s Reservation Bill, the Prime Minister alleged that the Congress and SP had once again displayed their “anti-women” stance.

“The NDA government introduced the Nari Shakti Vandan Amendment. If passed, women would have received reservation in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections from 2029. A large number of women would have been elected to Lucknow and Delhi without affecting other categories. However, the Samajwadi Party opposed the amendment,” he said.

Modi further accused the SP of being driven by nepotism and casteism. “They can never rise above such politics and will continue to oppose development. Uttar Pradesh must remain cautious of the Samajwadi Party and its allies,” he added.

Highlighting global challenges, the Prime Minister said that while the world is grappling with war, unrest and instability, India continues to progress steadily. “Some forces are trying to defame the country due to their hunger for power, but India is not only secure, it is also setting new development records. We are moving forward with the vision of a self-reliant India and building world-class infrastructure. The Ganga Expressway is a major step in this direction,” he said. He also announced that the expressway would soon be extended from Meerut to Haridwar.

Calling the project a “blessing of Mother Ganga,” Modi said it would significantly improve connectivity in Uttar Pradesh. “One can now travel to the Sangam and return from Kashi within hours. Just as the Ganga has been the lifeline of this region for centuries, this expressway will become the new lifeline of development in modern times,” he said.

The Prime Minister praised the Uttar Pradesh government for naming the expressway after the Ganga, calling it a reflection of India’s development vision rooted in heritage.

He also referred to the recent inauguration of the Delhi-Dehradun Expressway, saying that modern expressways are the “palm lines” of a developing India and signal a bright future.

Modi said the era of delayed infrastructure projects was over. “There was a time when road projects took decades, files remained pending, and governments changed without progress. In a double-engine government, projects are completed on time—from foundation to inauguration,” he said.

He added that the Ganga Expressway would not only connect different regions of Uttar Pradesh but also bring the National Capital Region (NCR) closer, unlocking economic potential.

The Prime Minister said Uttar Pradesh, once considered a backward state, is now progressing towards becoming a trillion-dollar economy. “With the largest youth population in the country, the state has immense potential. We are leveraging this strength to make Uttar Pradesh a manufacturing hub,” he said.

The 594-km-long access-controlled greenfield Ganga Expressway, built at an estimated cost of ₹36,230 crore, is expected to reduce travel time between Meerut and Prayagraj from 10–12 hours to about six hours.