Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday, 17 September flagged off the 'Vadnagar to Varanasi' bike yatra from Vadnagar in Gujarat — Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthplace — launching a multi-state ride that will carry the message of his 25 years in public life to villages along the route. A simultaneous counter-ride, 'Varanasi to Vadnagar', was flagged off from Modi's parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh.

What the Yatra Covers

The twin rallies are the centrepiece of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) month-long Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, running from 17 September to 17 October. Together, the two routes are set to traverse approximately 40,000 km, passing through 193 districts, 1,159 villages, and a wider network spanning 10 states.

The Vadnagar leg will pass through seven states, with around 300 bikers departing from the town. An equal contingent of 300 riders will ride from Varanasi, bringing the total number of participants in both groups to 600. Both journeys are scheduled to converge on 7 October — the date on which Modi was sworn in as Gujarat Chief Minister in 2001.

Shah's Address at Vadnagar

Speaking before the flag-off, Shah said the yatra would connect Modi's birthplace with his 'karmabhoomi' and take the message of his work to people across the country. 'The riders will cover villages along the route and highlight PM Modi's 25 years of public service,' he said.

Shah noted that the campaign was also aimed at introducing younger generations to Modi's political journey. 'Today is Modi ji's birthday, but October 7 is the day on which he will complete 25 years as the chief minister of the state and the Prime Minister of the country,' Shah said.

The journey from the Vadnagar end begins at the premises of the Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple and will proceed toward the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi. Shah had earlier offered prayers at the Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple and wished Modi 'a long and healthy life.'

Programme Around the Flag-Off

The Vadnagar event included a Maha Aarti at Sharmishtha Lake, a foot march, and the launch of a cleanliness campaign alongside the bike rally flag-off. The wider Seva Sankalp Abhiyan encompasses service initiatives, public programmes, and outreach activities being organised by BJP units nationwide throughout the month-long period.

Political Significance

The yatra is a visible political exercise by the BJP to anchor Modi's persona in the grass-roots narrative ahead of several state electoral cycles. By routing the rally through villages rather than cities, the party is signalling a deliberate outreach beyond urban strongholds. Notably, the choice of 7 October as the culmination date — marking exactly 25 years since Modi's first assumption of the Gujarat chief ministership — frames the event as a milestone celebration rather than a routine party programme. The BJP's nationwide rollout of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan will continue through October with further public-service events.