CM Bhupendra Patel hails Modi's women empowerment push
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Women's empowerment sits at the heart of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governance philosophy, and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel made that case forcefully on Saturday, 10 October 2026 — framing the PM as a devoted champion of Nari Shakti (women's power) who has worked to bring women into the mainstream of India's development story.
Posting in Gujarati, CM Patel wrote that PM Modi — described as a devoted worshipper of Aadyashakti (the primordial divine feminine) — has given 'special priority' to the empowerment of the country's women by placing them at the centre of development. The post accompanied a video, underscoring that this was a deliberate, produced communication rather than an off-the-cuff remark.
The 'Nari Shakti' framing in BJP's political vocabulary
The invocation of Aadyashakti — a concept rooted in Shakta Hindu tradition representing the supreme feminine energy — is a recurring rhetorical device in BJP's outreach, particularly in Gujarat where goddess worship holds deep cultural resonance. By linking PM Modi's personal devotion to his policy agenda, CM Patel is drawing a direct line between spiritual identity and political commitment to women.
The BJP government has consistently pointed to schemes such as the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign, the PM Ujjwala Yojana (free LPG connections for women below the poverty line), and the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam — the Women's Reservation Act passed in 2023 reserving 33 per cent of seats in Parliament and state legislatures for women — as evidence of this priority.
Gujarat as a showcase for women-led development
Under CM Patel's own tenure, Gujarat has positioned itself as a front-runner in women-centric governance, with programmes targeting self-help groups, rural female entrepreneurship, and girl-child education. The state's record on female literacy and workforce participation has been cited in policy circles as a model the Centre seeks to replicate nationally.
The timing of the post — a weekend evening message with accompanying video — suggests it is part of a coordinated BJP communication effort, likely pegged to a specific event or campaign moment, though no further detail was provided in the post itself.
If the BJP's bet holds, women voters — who turned out in record numbers in recent election cycles — will remain the coalition's most consequential constituency heading into the next electoral season.