IndiaPosted at: Oct 7 2026 10:28PM


PM Modi marks 25 years at the helm, seeks Advani's blessings and renews 'Viksit Bharat' pledge

New Delhi, Oct 7 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday marked 25 years of uninterrupted service as head of a government by meeting veteran BJP leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani at his residence and seeking his blessings, bringing a personal touch to a milestone celebrated by the government as a defining chapter in his political journey.
Modi, who was sworn in as Gujarat Chief Minister on October 7, 2001, completed a quarter-century at the helm of a government on Wednesday, having spent more than 12 years leading Gujarat before assuming office as Prime Minister in May 2014.
The occasion was marked by tributes from the union Cabinet, President Droupadi Murmu, political colleagues and leaders from several countries, while the Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to public service and the goal of building a "Viksit Bharat".
Announcing his meeting with Advani, Modi wrote on X: "Met Advani Ji at his residence and sought his blessings." Paying tribute to the veteran leader's contribution to Indian public life, he added: "His decades of public service and contribution to our national life have left a lasting imprint. He has played a pivotal role in strengthening India's progress."
The meeting carried particular political and personal significance, given Advani's role in Modi's rise within the BJP and his elevation to national leadership. In 2013, Advani opposed Modi's appointment as the BJP's campaign committee chief, but in May 2014 he proposed Modi's name as the leader of the BJP parliamentary party after the party secured a decisive mandate in the Lok Sabha election.
Modi subsequently became Prime Minister, beginning the second and longer phase of his journey at the head of a government. His decision to seek Advani's blessings on completing 25 years in executive office underscored the enduring place of the veteran leader in the political history of the BJP.
The anniversary also drew greetings from President Droupadi Murmu, to which Modi responded with gratitude. "Rashtrapati Ji, thank you for the wishes and generous words," he said, describing his 25-year journey as "deeply fulfilling" and attributing it to "the affection, faith and blessings of the people".
Seeking to place the milestone within a broader national context, Modi said the progress achieved over the years was the outcome of collective effort rather than the work of an individual. "Whatever progress we have witnessed has been possible because crores of Indians chose to participate in the nation's transformation with confidence and determination," he said, adding that it was particularly heartening to see the impact of this transformation in the everyday lives of citizens.
"I shall continue to serve our nation with the same spirit of duty and devotion as we all move together towards building a Viksit Bharat," the Prime Minister said, presenting the anniversary as a renewed commitment to the work ahead rather than a culmination of his political career.
The union Cabinet had on Tuesday adopted a resolution congratulating Modi on completing 25 years of continuous leadership as head of a government.
The resolution traced his journey from Gandhinagar to New Delhi, emphasising the continuity between his governance priorities in Gujarat and the policies pursued by his government at the national level. It also highlighted the successive electoral mandates he received in three Gujarat Assembly elections and three Lok Sabha elections.
The Prime Minister's Office marked the occasion by publishing a series of articles examining different aspects of Modi's political and administrative journey, from his early years as Gujarat Chief Minister to his emphasis on learning, teamwork and hard work.
The material also highlighted the themes of "seva, purpose, conviction and courage" that his supporters regard as central to his approach to leadership.
Modi assumed office as Gujarat Chief Minister at a challenging juncture, months after the devastating earthquake of January 2001 and amid the economic and administrative difficulties confronting the state. His tenure in Gandhinagar continued until 2014, when the BJP's victory in the general election propelled him to the national stage.
He was sworn in as Prime Minister on May 26, 2014, and subsequently led the BJP to further victories in the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
His 25 years at the head of a government therefore encompass two distinct but closely connected phases: more than 12 years as Gujarat Chief Minister and over 12 years as Prime Minister. The first established his political identity around governance and development in Gujarat, while the second extended his priorities to a national agenda encompassing infrastructure expansion, welfare delivery, digital public infrastructure, manufacturing, financial inclusion, technological development and a more assertive international engagement.
Supporters have portrayed this continuity as evidence of an enduring focus on development and administrative delivery.
Critics, however, have raised questions over aspects of his governance, including social polarisation, institutional independence and the concentration of political power.
The quarter-century milestone consequently also offers an occasion to assess the broader political and institutional consequences of his prolonged leadership, beyond the official tributes and celebrations.
The anniversary has also attracted congratulations from abroad, with the Prime Minister's Office confirming that leaders from several countries conveyed their wishes to Modi. The international greetings reflect the prominence India has acquired in global diplomacy during his tenure, as New Delhi has expanded its engagement with major powers, strengthened partnerships with countries across the Global South and sought a larger role in shaping international economic and strategic priorities.
The occasion also reinforced his stated ambition of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047, the centenary of Independence. The "Viksit Bharat" goal has become the overarching framework through which his government presents its priorities on economic growth, infrastructure, technological advancement, employment, welfare and India's global standing.
For Modi, the completion of 25 years at the head of a government brings together the political legacy of the BJP's older generation, the electoral mandates that carried him from a state capital to the Prime Minister's Office and his continuing attempt to frame governance as an exercise in public service.
The Prime Minister's central message was one of continuity and collective endeavour. Expressing gratitude for the trust placed in him by the people, acknowledging the contribution of those who shaped his political journey and crediting citizens for the country's progress, Modi made clear that he regards the completion of a quarter-century in executive leadership not as an endpoint but as another stage in an unfinished national undertaking.
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