Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday, 10 June 2026, published an op-ed in Dainik Jagran praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for transforming Indian politics into a vehicle of public service, crediting his leadership with making 140 crore Indians active participants in the country's development journey.

Context

In her post on X, CM Gupta wrote that PM Modi had made politics a medium of service rather than power — 'सत्ता नहीं, सेवा का माध्यम' ['not power, but a means of service'] — and that citizen participation had become the greatest strength of a 'New India'. The post was accompanied by a link to the Dainik Jagran epaper edition of 10 June 2026, where the full article appeared. She used the hashtag #LongestServingElectedPMModi, aligning with a wider BJP campaign marking Modi's tenure in office.

Policy Backdrop

The article specifically invokes two landmark programmes: the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, launched on 2 October 2014 to eliminate open defecation and overhaul waste management, and the Digital India programme, launched in July 2015 to expand digital infrastructure and e-governance across the country. Both initiatives have been central to the BJP-led government's narrative of mass citizen mobilisation rather than top-down welfare delivery.

Gupta ties these programmes to the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision — the central government's stated goal of transforming India into a fully developed nation by the centenary of independence. This long-term framework was prominently articulated in the Prime Minister's Independence Day address of 2023 and has since featured in successive budget speeches and official communications.

Stakeholders and Impact

The op-ed frames 140 crore Indians as the primary stakeholders and beneficiaries of this development philosophy, arguing that their involvement is the defining force behind national progress. This framing reflects a sustained BJP communication strategy that positions flagship schemes as participatory movements rather than government-administered programmes.

As Delhi Chief Minister, Rekha Gupta commands a significant platform in the national capital, and her choice to publish in Dainik Jagran — one of India's largest Hindi-language dailies with extensive reach across northern states — amplifies the message to a broad Hindi-speaking readership.

What's Next

Periodic progress reports on Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 and Digital India 2.0 components are expected as part of the government's tracking of Viksit Bharat 2047 targets. The Union Budget and the upcoming Independence Day address are likely platforms where this narrative of citizen-led development will be reiterated at the national level. CM Gupta's article signals that state-level BJP leaders are actively reinforcing this messaging ahead of those milestones.