Assembly Elections 2026: PM Modi hails BJP President Nitin Nabin for saffron outfit's resounding victory

New Delhi: Following spectacular victories in the assembly elections of Bengal, Assam, and Puducherry, celebrations were held on Monday evening at the BJP headquarters in Delhi. Prime Minister Modi arrived clad in a traditional Bengali 'dhoti-kurta', where party workers welcomed him with resounding slogans. Here, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the party cadres.

What did PM Modi say?

During the event, a particular gesture became the center of attention when the Prime Minister congratulated the party's National President, Nitin Naveen, by placing a garland around his neck and patting him on the back. In fact, the garland had been arranged by the party specifically to welcome PM Modi. However, just as Party President Nitin Naveen stepped forward to garland the Prime Minister, PM Modi took the garland from him and placed it around Naveen's neck instead.

Furthermore, in his address from the dais, Prime Minister Modi credited this BJP victory to the Party President and the dedicated workers. Praising Nitin Naveen, he noted that these were the first assembly elections held since Naveen assumed the office of President. He emphasized that the guidance every party worker received from him during these elections proved invaluable in achieving this victory.

It is worth noting that Nitin Naveen was elected as the BJP's National President unopposed earlier this year. He formally assumed office at the BJP headquarters on January 20, 2026. Prior to this, on December 14, 2025, the BJP Parliamentary Board had appointed Naveen as the party's Working National President, replacing J.P. Nadda. At the age of 45, he has become the youngest president in the party's history.

"Today is a Historic Day": What did PM Modi imply?

Addressing the gathering, PM Modi stated, "Today is a historic day; it is unprecedented. When years of dedicated effort (*sadhana*) transform into tangible success (*siddhi*), the joy that radiates on one's face—that very joy is what I see today on the faces of BJP workers across the entire nation. As a fellow party worker myself, I share in the happiness of every single BJP *karyakarta*. Today is a day that is special and significant in many respects. It is a day that heralds a bright future for our country. It is a day of trust—trust in India's magnificent democracy, trust in the politics of performance, trust in the resolve for stability, and trust in the spirit of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' (One India, Great India)." He said, "Today, I respectfully bow before the people of Bengal, Assam, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala; I pay my humble tributes to them all. Today, I also extend my heartfelt congratulations to the millions of BJP workers. Every BJP worker—whether big or small—has once again worked wonders and made the 'Lotus' bloom. You have scripted a new chapter in history."

Were Congratulations Extended to Sunetra Pawar as Well?

The Prime Minister further added that the results of various by-elections held today have also been extremely encouraging. In the by-elections held in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Nagaland, and Tripura, the people—the ultimate embodiment of the Divine—bestowed their blessings upon our candidates, leading to victories in these states as well. NDA leader and Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister, Smt. Sunetra Pawar, has also registered a significant victory. I express my heartfelt gratitude to the people of all these states for their support.