PM in Thiruvananthapuram today: Modi to unveil major civic plans, boost BJP’s Assembly poll push
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Thiruvananthapuram today (January 23, 2026), a trip being closely watched within the BJP for both its development announcements and its political implications ahead of the Kerala Assembly elections due in April–May.
The visit comes weeks after the BJP’s historic victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, ending the CPM’s 45-year control of the civic body, even as the party continues to remain without representation in the 140-member state Assembly.
According to the official programme, the Prime Minister will begin engagements around 10.45 am, laying foundation stones, inaugurating projects and flagging off new train services, followed by a public address.
Development agenda anchored in the capital city
During the visit, the Prime Minister is expected to unveil the Capital City Development Blueprint, a roadmap that is likely to outline new central projects, the next phase of the Smart City programme, a comprehensive waste management initiative, and a development corridor linked to the Vizhinjam port.
Party strategists see the blueprint as part of an effort to position Thiruvananthapuram as a model of BJP-led urban governance, an approach aimed at reshaping the party’s image in a state where it has struggled to expand beyond pockets of influence.
The BJP had promised during the civic polls that the Prime Minister would visit the capital within 45 days of assuming control of the corporation, a commitment now being fulfilled through a high-visibility development-focused programme.
Four trains to be flagged off at Putharikandam event
A key component of the visit will be the flagging off of four new train services, including three Amrit Bharat Express trains and one passenger train.
The services include:
- Nagercoil–Mangaluru Amrit Bharat Express
- Thiruvananthapuram–Tambaram Amrit Bharat Express
- Thiruvananthapuram–Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express
- Thrissur–Guruvayur passenger train
The trains are expected to strengthen rail connectivity between Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, improving passenger movement and regional linkages.
Events at Putharikandam Maidan will culminate in a large public meeting, where the Prime Minister will address party cadres and newly elected BJP local body representatives.
Credit card rollout and innovation hub on agenda
The Prime Minister will also launch the PM SVANidhi Credit Card, a UPI-linked, interest-free revolving credit facility for street vendors. During the programme, PM SVANidhi loans will be disbursed to one lakh beneficiaries, including vendors from Kerala.
In the science and technology sector, the Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for the CSIR-NIIST Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship Hub in Thiruvananthapuram, focusing on life sciences, bio-economy research, Ayurveda-linked innovation, biotechnology, sustainable packaging and green hydrogen.
Healthcare and citizen services projects
Healthcare infrastructure will feature with the foundation stone being laid for a Radiosurgery Centre at the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, aimed at providing minimally invasive treatment for complex brain disorders.
The visit will also see the inauguration of the Poojappura Head Post Office, a technology-enabled facility offering postal, banking, insurance and digital services.
Political stakes ahead of Assembly polls
While the BJP has projected its civic win in the capital as a watershed moment, internal assessments have flagged a key concern — the party’s vote share declined despite winning control of the corporation.
This contradiction has sharpened the party’s focus on expanding its social and electoral base, with the Prime Minister’s visit widely seen as an attempt to convert symbolic urban power into broader political momentum.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who visited the state earlier, has already framed the challenge before the state unit as “Mission 2026”.
For a party without a single MLA, Thiruvananthapuram has emerged as both a breakthrough and a test case. Friday’s visit is being viewed as a bid to determine whether the capital can serve as the BJP’s launchpad in Kerala’s high-stakes electoral contest.