On National Unity Day, observed on 31 October, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders paid tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, crediting the 'Iron Man of India' with laying the foundations of a united nation and giving life to the vision of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat'. The day marks Patel's birth anniversary and is commemorated across the country through the 'Run for Unity', public pledges, and official ceremonies.

BJP Leaders Salute Patel's Legacy

BJP leader Ramesh Bidhuri underscored how Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently invoked Patel's legacy as a call to national unity. 'After becoming a Member of Parliament, our Prime Minister Modi called upon the country to unite, highlighting that India was divided into nearly 560 princely states. To build an Akhand Bharat, the responsibility was ultimately entrusted to the first Home Minister, Sardar Patel, who successfully merged the princely states to form an organised and united India,' Bidhuri said.

Union Minister of State Krishan Pal Gurjar recalled how it was Modi who designated 31 October as National Unity Day, or Rashtriya Ekta Diwas. 'Our Prime Minister decided to celebrate his birthday as Unity Day, leading to events such as the Run for Unity being organised across the country. Today, the country is bound in a thread of unity, and the greatest credit for this goes to Sardar Patel, due to whom we see Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat,' Gurjar said.

A Vision of Unity Within Diversity

BJP leader Vinay Sahasrabuddhe drew attention to the philosophical dimension of Patel's legacy, arguing that national unity and social harmony are among India's most fundamental values. 'India's diversity contains an underlying unity. On the outside, there is diversity, but on the inside, there is unity. People need to be reminded of this, and that is why the Prime Minister, after much thoughtful consideration, gave the message to celebrate October 31 as National Unity Day,' Sahasrabuddhe said.

Who Was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel

Born in 1875 in Gujarat, Sardar Patel is remembered as the architect of India's post-Independence territorial consolidation. As the country's first Home Minister, he oversaw the integration of more than 560 princely states into the Indian Union — a feat of statecraft that shaped modern India's map. His resolve and administrative acumen earned him the enduring title of the 'Iron Man of India'. The day also honours his contributions to the freedom struggle and to building a durable national administrative framework.

Rashtriya Ekta Diwas: Observances Nationwide

Commemorative events are being held across the country on 31 October 2026, including the flagship 'Run for Unity', official state ceremonies, and public pledge-taking drives. Notably, the Modi government's decision to institutionalise National Unity Day has lent fresh momentum each year to the remembrance of Patel's contribution — a political and cultural reframing that both the government and BJP have actively championed since 2014. The day continues to serve as a platform for the ruling party to project its 'one nation' narrative alongside honouring Patel's historical role.