CM Bhajan Lal Calls on Youth to Join Run for Unity on Oct 31
Synopsis
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma, quoting PM Narendra Modi, called on citizens and youth to join the 'Run for Unity' on October 31 — Rashtriya Ekta Diwas — marking Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary and India's national integration legacy.
Key Takeaways
31 October is observed as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) to mark Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary.
The Government of India declared the day in 2014 ; the annual 'Run for Unity' is its flagship event.
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma relayed a direct appeal from PM Narendra Modi , urging mass participation in the morning run.
The appeal was directed especially at India's youth .
Sardar Patel integrated more than 560 princely states into the Indian Union after 1947 .
Tomorrow, India pauses to honour the man who stitched a fractured subcontinent into a single nation — and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma is urging every citizen, especially the young, to lace up and take part in the 'Run for Unity' on the morning of 31 October 2026, Rashtriya Ekta Diwas.
Sardar Patel's Legacy and the Day That Marks It
On 31 October each year, the country observes Rashtriya Ekta Diwas — National Unity Day — to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister. It was Patel who, in the months after 1947, persuaded and pressured more than 560 princely states to accede to the Indian Union, an act of diplomatic and political will that defined the republic's territorial shape. The day exists as a standing reminder of that feat.
The Government of India formally declared 31 October as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas in 2014, anchoring the annual Run for Unity as its signature public event — a mass participation run held simultaneously across the country.
CM Sharma Relays PM Modi's Appeal
In his post on X, CM Sharma quoted Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly: 'कल सरदार वल्लभभाई पटेल जी की जयंती है। पूरा देश इस दिन को राष्ट्रीय एकता दिवस के रूप में मनाता है।' — ('Tomorrow is the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The entire country observes this day as National Unity Day.')
The CM amplified PM Modi's call for citizens to participate 'wholeheartedly' — बढ़-चढ़कर हिस्सा लें — in the morning run, directing the appeal with particular force at young Indians. The message signals Rajasthan's alignment with the Centre's nationwide mobilisation around Patel's legacy and the integration theme it represents.
A BJP Ritual With National Reach
Since 2014, BJP-governed states have consistently amplified New Delhi's National Unity Day messaging, turning what began as a central declaration into a multi-state civic moment. The Run for Unity has grown into one of the largest annual public participation events in the country, with state administrations, schools, and defence establishments organising local legs of the run. For Rajasthan, a state that borders Pakistan and carries deep historical memory of partition and integration, the day carries weight beyond ceremony.
Sardar Patel's integration project remains, arguably, the most consequential administrative act in independent India's first year. Honouring it with a run is symbolic — but the symbolism has legs.
Point of View
Since 2014, become a soft-power vehicle for the BJP to cement Patel's legacy within its ideological narrative, positioning the party as the natural custodian of national integration. By directing the appeal specifically at youth, the post also signals a longer-term project: embedding Patel — and by extension, the integration story — in the civic identity of a generation. The ritual is annual, but the political intent is durable.
NationPress
30 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and when is it celebrated?
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) is observed on 31 October every year to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel . The Government of India declared this day in 2014 .
What is the 'Run for Unity'?
The 'Run for Unity' is a mass participation run held across India on 31 October as part of National Unity Day observances, aimed at promoting national integration and honouring Sardar Patel's legacy.
Why is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel important to India?
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel served as India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister and is credited with integrating more than 560 princely states into the Indian Union after independence in 1947 .
What did CM Bhajan Lal Sharma say about National Unity Day 2026?
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma quoted PM Narendra Modi and urged all citizens — particularly young Indians — to participate enthusiastically in the 'Run for Unity' on the morning of 31 October 2026 .
Who declared 31 October as National Unity Day in India?
The Government of India officially declared 31 October as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas in 2014 to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel .
