Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday attributed the BJP's spectacular victory in the just-concluded Maharashtra and Haryana Assembly elections to the foundation laid in Odisha over five months ago.

"No one gave us a chance in Odisha but we won. The Odisha effect has rubbed off on other states. People are blessing us," he said while addressing a gathering at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here. The meeting was held to felicitate Modi who arrived on a three-day visit to the state during which he will address the national conference of director-generals of police and inspector-generals of police.

Modi said the results of Maharashtra and Haryana have galvanised the nation. "I can see a new energy and enthusiasm among the people. The results of Maharashtra and Haryana have instilled the nation with a new confidence," he said. The Prime Minister, however, kept mum about his party's defeat in the Jharkhand election.

Making it clear that Odisha now figures prominently in the BJP’s scheme of things, the Prime Minister, who had campaigned extensively in the state during the elections, said: "Most political pandits did not give us a chance. They said we were not big enough in the state to form a government. We have proved all of them wrong. I wonder where these people are now."

Modi launched a blistering attack on the Congress-led Opposition accusing it of spreading lies out of sheer jealousy. "In 2019, the 'chowkidar' was a thief for them but the same 'chowkidar' became honest by 2024, and they haven't abused him since then. They only want to fool people and regain power by hook or crook," said Modi. The Prime Minister accused the Opposition of trying to trample down the Constitution.

"Everyone has a right to agitate but they should not spread lies and try to destroy the Constitution," he said, adding that it was natural that there would be differences between political parties on several issues and parties also have a right to take their views to educate people.

"But in the recent past, attempts have been made to tarnish the image of democracy and Constitution," he said, adding that frustration was growing among those who thought that power was their birthright.

"They have been deprived of power for the last several years now. Such parties are now filled with frustration and anger, so much so that they do not hesitate to conspire against the country and its people. They are trying to take the country on a different path and misleading people with their ‘jhoot aur afwah ki dukan’. They have now intensified this campaign which poses a challenge to BJP workers and the people who love India and its Constitution,” he said.