Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the launch of Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's book 'Apnapan – Narendra Modi Sang Mere Anubhav' ('Apnapan – My Experiences with Narendra Modi') in New Delhi on Tuesday, 26 May 2026. The event was graced by the presence of former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, lending the gathering a rare cross-party distinction.

Context

The book launch, held in New Delhi, brought together chief ministers from several states, Union ministers, members of Parliament, legislators, social workers, and writers. The Chief Minister's Office of Uttarakhand described the event as a 'garimamay samaroh' ('dignified ceremony'), underscoring its significance beyond a routine political gathering.

CM Dhami extended his congratulations to Shivraj Singh Chouhan on the publication and called the book 'inspirational for society' — a characterisation that reflects the volume's stated themes of leadership, service, and good governance.

About the Book

'Apnapan', authored by Shivraj Singh Chouhan, offers a first-person account of his varied experiences alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi across different roles in public life. According to the official description shared at the event, the book presents ideas on leadership, service, good governance (sushasan), and nation-building in an accessible style.

Chouhan, currently Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, served as Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh for multiple terms beginning in 2005, during which he built a close working relationship with Modi at the national level. The memoir is positioned as a reflection on that shared political journey.

Policy Backdrop

The launch fits a well-established pattern within the BJP of senior leaders publishing accounts that document their association with Prime Minister Modi's governance philosophy. Such events serve a dual purpose: they celebrate individual political careers while reinforcing the party's collective narrative around development and nation-building.

The attendance of H.D. Deve Gowda — a former Prime Minister from a different political tradition — alongside M. Venkaiah Naidu gave the gathering a broader, non-partisan character, signalling that the book's themes of leadership and governance carry appeal beyond any single party.

Stakeholders and Impact

The presence of chief ministers from multiple states at the launch highlights the ongoing coordination between BJP-ruled state governments and the Centre on political and administrative messaging. For CM Dhami, participation in such a high-profile Delhi event reinforces Uttarakhand's alignment with the central government's priorities.

For Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the book represents a public articulation of his governance philosophy at a time when he holds a key portfolio covering India's agricultural and rural development agenda — sectors that directly affect hundreds of millions of citizens.

What's Next

The release of 'Apnapan' is likely to prompt wider discussion on the BJP's internal culture of mentorship and collective leadership, particularly as the party heads into an active political calendar. Similar commemorative events involving Union ministers and state leaders are expected in coming months, continuing this pattern of political memoir-writing as a tool for ideological outreach.