Gujarat CM Patel: Opposition attacks failed to shake public trust in PM Modi
Synopsis
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel used a BJP state workshop in Gandhinagar to declare that opposition attacks have not dented public trust in PM Modi — and to unveil an ambitious month-long 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' campaign, timed to Modi's birthday, featuring everything from holy-river bike journeys to booth-level lamp-lighting. The campaign is the BJP's most structured grassroots push yet to mark Modi's 25 years in executive office.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel said opposition attempts to spread 'misleading propaganda' and make 'indecent remarks' had not weakened public trust in PM Modi .
Remarks were made at a BJP state-level workshop in Gandhinagar on 2 September .
The 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' will run from 17 September to 17 October , marking PM Modi's 25 uninterrupted years as a head of government.
Campaign activities include booth-level events, school competitions, Anganwadi programmes, street plays, and an innovation challenge for students and start-ups.
A symbolic bike journey carrying water from Gujarat's holy rivers will travel from Vadnagar to Varanasi for an offering at Kashi Vishwanath .
The workshop was chaired by State BJP President Jagdish Vishwakarma and attended by senior party leaders including Tarun Chugh and Harsh Sanghavi .
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday, 2 September asserted that sustained opposition efforts to obstruct national development, circulate misleading narratives, and make 'indecent remarks' against Prime Minister Narendra Modi had failed to erode public confidence in his leadership. Patel made the remarks at a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state-level workshop in Gandhinagar, held to plan the party's upcoming 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' campaign.
Key Remarks at the BJP Workshop
'Despite attempts by opponents to obstruct the country's development, spread misleading propaganda and make indecent remarks, public faith in PM Modi's leadership remains intact,' Chief Minister Patel said at the event. He attributed this sustained public support to what he described as tangible positive changes delivered across multiple sectors under Modi's governance.
Patel also highlighted Gujarat's development trajectory, crediting the foundations laid during Modi's tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister for the state's current standing. 'Gujarat today is a leader in financial discipline and the first choice for investors,' he said.
About the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan
The 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' is scheduled to run from 17 September to 17 October, coinciding with PM Modi's birthday on 17 September, to mark what the party describes as his completing '25 uninterrupted years as a head of government.' The workshop was chaired by State BJP President Jagdish Vishwakarma and attended by State BJP In-charge Tarun Chugh, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, national campaign team zone in-charge Ashish Shelar, and state organisation general secretary Ratnakar.
Campaign Activities Planned Across Gujarat
According to the party, the month-long campaign will feature a wide range of public-participation activities including booth-level events, school competitions, programmes at Anganwadi centres, 'Seva Jyoti' marches, street plays, exhibitions, and an innovation challenge targeting students, start-ups, professionals, and grassroots innovators.
Under the 'Ashirwad No Divdo' programme, beneficiary families will light lamps at every booth, as announced by state organisation general secretary Ratnakar. A collective pledge for 'Viksit Bharat 2047' is also planned.
Symbolic Journey from Vadnagar to Varanasi
A notable element of the campaign is a bike journey carrying water collected from Gujarat's holy rivers, travelling from Vadnagar — PM Modi's birthplace — to Varanasi, for an offering at Kashi Vishwanath. Ganga water will subsequently be brought back to Vadnagar for an offering at Hatkeshwar Mahadev, weaving together religious symbolism with the political campaign. Large 'human rangoli' formations at major public spaces are also planned as part of the outreach.
Chief Minister Patel urged BJP workers to actively communicate the achievements of both the state and central BJP governments to citizens as part of the campaign's core mandate. The BJP is positioning the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan as a broad public-engagement exercise ahead of what is expected to be a politically active period.
Point of View
Reinforcing a personal-mythologising strategy the BJP has deployed consistently since 2014. Patel's framing of the opposition as purveyors of 'misleading propaganda' is standard BJP counter-narrative, but its deployment at a closed party workshop — rather than a public rally — suggests the party is actively shaping the internal message before the campaign goes public. The real question is whether booth-level lamp-lighting and human rangoli translate into durable voter engagement, or whether this is a high-visibility exercise that dissipates once the month ends.
NationPress
3 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BJP's 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan'?
The 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' is a month-long BJP campaign scheduled from 17 September to 17 October, timed to mark PM Modi's birthday and his 25 uninterrupted years as a head of government. It includes booth-level activities, school competitions, Anganwadi programmes, street plays, and an innovation challenge for students and start-ups.
What did Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel say about the opposition?
Chief Minister Patel said that despite opposition attempts to obstruct development, spread misleading propaganda, and make indecent remarks, public faith in PM Modi's leadership remains intact. He made these remarks at a BJP state-level workshop in Gandhinagar on 2 September.
What is the significance of the Vadnagar-to-Varanasi bike journey in the campaign?
The bike journey will carry water collected from Gujarat's holy rivers from Vadnagar — PM Modi's birthplace — to Varanasi for an offering at Kashi Vishwanath temple. Ganga water will then be brought back to Vadnagar for an offering at Hatkeshwar Mahadev, combining religious symbolism with the political campaign.
Who attended the BJP state-level workshop in Gandhinagar?
The workshop was chaired by State BJP President Jagdish Vishwakarma and attended by State BJP In-charge Tarun Chugh, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi, national campaign team zone in-charge Ashish Shelar, and state organisation general secretary Ratnakar.
What is the 'Ashirwad No Divdo' programme?
'Ashirwad No Divdo' is a component of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan under which beneficiary families will light lamps at every booth across Gujarat. It is part of the BJP's broader public-participation outreach during the month-long campaign.
