Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Indian National Congress (INC), labelling the party a gang of "Urban Naxals" and accusing it of an "anti-women" stance for opposing the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. Delivering a victory speech at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in New Delhi, Modi said angry women voters had already punished Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), and predicted a similar reckoning in Kerala.

The 'Urban Naxal' Charge

Modi did not hold back in his characterisation of the opposition. "Maoism, which is breathing its last in jungles, has taken root in the Congress, which has become a gang of urban naxals," he said. He further argued that Congress, by aligning itself with communist ideology, was moving in a "regressive direction" at a time when, he claimed, the world had already rejected Communism.

"Today, there is not a single state with a Left government. Today's Bharat wants development and a brand of politics which takes the nation forward, but the Congress is moving in a regressive direction and joining hands with the ideology of Communism, which has been rejected the world over," Modi stated.

Women Voters and the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam

A significant portion of Modi's address focused on women's political assertion. He accused the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP) of adopting anti-women policies and said both parties would face the consequences at the ballot box. "I am confident that Kerala's women voters will also teach the Congress a lesson in the next election," he said. He added that the SP would similarly have to face the anger of women for its stance.

Election Results and Regional Significance

Modi reflected on the outcomes in West Bengal, Assam, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, noting the regime change in Tamil Nadu and the United Democratic Front (UDF) win in Kerala. He congratulated the winning parties and assured that the Union government would support the new state governments. "I once again thank voters in Bengal, Assam and Puducherry for the BJP's victory and for making the democracy stronger," he said.

He attributed the defeat of Congress, DMK, and the SP in several states to their "divisive politics," arguing that the BJP's connection to ground realities made it the preferred choice of farmers and voters in eastern India.

Congress's Decline and BJP's National Vision

Modi traced what he described as the long arc of Congress's decline since Independence. "The Congress ruled almost all the states after Independence. But as the decades passed by and the emotion of Independence subsided, the Congress started losing the trust of people," he said. He accused the party of failing to understand the country's culture and aspirations.

In contrast, he positioned the BJP as a party aligned with both national and regional aspirations. "Bharat and Bharatiyata are the supreme emotions for the BJP. The BJP is not just a national party but a party capable of fulfilling national aspirations with regional aspirations," he said.

Viksit Bharat and the Eastern Resurgence

Modi also invoked historical imagery to frame the BJP's eastern India strategy, referring to the ancient regions of Ang (Bihar), Banga (Bengal), and Kalinga (Odisha) as the three pillars of India's greatness. He said reviving these regions was central to the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047. He also referenced global turmoil stemming from the Iran conflict, saying Indian voters had chosen stability and national unity during a period of international uncertainty.

With assembly elections in Kerala on the horizon and the BJP consolidating gains in eastern India, Modi's speech signals a sharper ideological offensive against the opposition heading into the next electoral cycle.