Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly criticized the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal, declaring that the people of the state are "fed up with TMC" and desire a development-oriented BJP government. These remarks were made on January 16, 2026, moments after the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a significant victory in the Maharashtra civic body elections, with results showing major gains across key municipal corporations including Mumbai, Pune, Thane, and Nagpur. The original article, published by the Times of India on January 16, 2026, accurately reported that PM Modi would be addressing a rally in Malda the following day, January 17, 2026. This visit to Malda was part of a larger tour of West Bengal and Assam, during which the Prime Minister was scheduled to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for multiple rail and road infrastructure projects valued at over ₹3,250 crore. These projects included flagging off India's first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train between Howrah and Guwahati (Kamakhya) from Malda Town Railway Station. Modi's statements and rally in Malda are seen as a strategic move ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal, further intensifying the political contest between the BJP and the ruling TMC. His criticism focused on alleged misrule, corruption, and obstruction of central development initiatives by the state government. The narrative of a 'Maha win' in Maharashtra provided political momentum for the Prime Minister's offensive against the TMC, framing it as a reflection of public sentiment shifting towards the BJP. The events underscore the high-stakes political environment in West Bengal as both major parties gear up for electoral battles.