CM Rekha Gupta Pays Tribute to Patel on 151st Birth Anniversary
Synopsis
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta paid tribute to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at Sardar Patel Chowk on his 151st birth anniversary, marking Rashtriya Ekta Diwas on 31 October 2026, and called on Indians to honour his legacy of national unity.
Key Takeaways
Delhi CM Rekha Gupta paid floral tributes at Sardar Patel Chowk, Sansad Marg on 31 October 2026 .
The occasion marks the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) is observed every 31 October , instituted by the Government of India in 2014 .
Sardar Patel integrated more than 500 princely states into independent India after 1947 as the country's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister.
CM Gupta urged all citizens to adopt Patel's resolve and contribute to building a 'strong, united, and developed India.'
On a morning that India pauses to remember its greatest unifier, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta paid floral tributes at the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at Sardar Patel Chowk, Sansad Marg, marking the 151st birth anniversary of the Iron Man of India on 31 October 2026 — observed nationally as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, or National Unity Day.
Sharing her tribute on X, CM Gupta wrote: 'I paid respectful homage at the statue of the architect of modern India, the Iron Man, Bharat Ratna, revered Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Ji, on his 151st birth anniversary at Sardar Patel Chowk on Sansad Marg. Heartfelt greetings of National Unity Day to all fellow citizens.' She called on every Indian to make Sardar Patel's resolve their own — working toward a 'strong, united, and developed India.'
The man who stitched 500 princely states into one nation
The tribute lands on an anniversary weighted by history. As India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, Sardar Patel oversaw the integration of more than 500 princely states into the Indian Union in the years immediately following 1947 — a feat of political will and diplomacy that shaped the territorial map Indians live within today. CM Gupta's post underlined that legacy directly: Patel's 'indomitable courage, firm resolve, and unbreakable dedication to the nation' had given India a unity and integrity that 'remains our nation's greatest strength even today.'
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas: a tradition born in 2014
National Unity Day was instituted by the Government of India in 2014 to be observed every 31 October, transforming Patel's birthday into a structured annual occasion for reaffirming national integration. Since then, central and state governments — led prominently by the BJP — have institutionalised floral tributes, unity run events, and public programmes across the country on this date. The observance has grown into one of the more visible civic rituals on the national calendar, weaving Patel's legacy into contemporary political discourse around unity and nationhood.
For CM Rekha Gupta, the early-morning tribute at one of Delhi's most symbolic intersections signals both personal reverence and political continuity — the BJP's long-running project of positioning Patel as the moral and constitutional anchor of a unified India. The message she left her followers: carry that resolve forward.
One hundred and fifty-one years after his birth, Sardar Patel's map endures — and so does the annual reminder that holding it together is every generation's job.
Point of View
And implicitly counterposed to, the Nehruvian legacy. By showing up in person at a central Delhi landmark on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, the Delhi CM reinforces her alignment with that broader cultural project while also making a local statement of governance intent. The invocation of Patel's 'integration of princely states' carries particular resonance in BJP political messaging, linking a historical achievement to the party's contemporary emphasis on a strong, centralised national identity. As the day becomes more ritualised, the political dividend lies less in the tribute itself and more in the visible consistency of participation year after year.
NationPress
31 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 31 October celebrated as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas?
31 October is the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The Government of India instituted Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) on this date in 2014 to honour his role in unifying India and to promote national integration.
What did Delhi CM Rekha Gupta do on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 2026?
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta paid floral tributes at the statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel at Sardar Patel Chowk on Sansad Marg and extended greetings of National Unity Day to all citizens on 31 October 2026.
How many princely states did Sardar Patel integrate into India?
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, as India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, oversaw the integration of more than 500 princely states into the Indian Union after independence in 1947.
When was Rashtriya Ekta Diwas first observed?
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas was first observed in 2014 after the Government of India institutionalised it as an annual event on 31 October to mark Sardar Patel's birth anniversary.
What is Sardar Patel Chowk on Sansad Marg?
Sardar Patel Chowk on Sansad Marg in New Delhi is a public square featuring a statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. It serves as a prominent site for official tributes on his birth anniversary each year.
