CM Majhi marks 12 years of Modi's India First vision
Synopsis
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi marked 12 years of PM Narendra Modi's leadership with an Odia-language tribute on X, calling 'India First' an inseparable part of national character and pledging a prosperous Odisha through the Viksit Bharat vision.
Key Takeaways
CM Mohan Charan Majhi posted an Odia-language tribute on 19 June 2026 marking 12 years of PM Modi 's leadership.
He described 'India First' ( Rashtra Pratham ) as no longer a slogan but an inseparable part of every Indian's national character and thought.
The post highlighted border security and welfare for the most deprived as key outcomes of the 'India First' framework over 12 years .
Odia identity, art, culture, and heritage were cited as having gained new global recognition during this period of cultural revival.
Odisha 's participation in the Viksit Bharat vision was described as growing wider and stronger, with goals of industry, prosperity, and social welfare.
The post was tagged #12YearsOfIndiaFirst , placing Odisha 's state narrative within a coordinated national BJP messaging effort.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Friday, 19 June 2026, posted a tribute on X marking 12 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, describing the period as one of unprecedented ideological transformation in the Indian national consciousness under the 'India First' framework.
Context
Writing in Odia, CM Majhi stated that the past 12 years under PM Modi's 'visionary leadership' (ଦୂରଦର୍ଶୀ ନେତୃତ୍ୱ) have brought about 'an unprecedented ideological revolution in the Indian public consciousness.' He argued that 'Rashtra Pratham' — or 'India First' — is no longer merely a slogan but has become 'an inseparable part of every Indian's thought, awareness, and national character.'
The post was tagged #12YearsOfIndiaFirst, a hashtag that marks the anniversary of Modi's assumption of office in May 2014, when the BJP first came to power at the centre.
Policy Backdrop
Narendra Modi was first sworn in as Prime Minister in May 2014, and the 'India First' doctrine has since served as a recurring motif across foreign policy, welfare delivery, and cultural revival initiatives at the national level. The central government's Viksit Bharat vision — targeting a fully developed India by 2047 — has become the overarching framework into which state-level development plans are increasingly integrated.
Odisha came under BJP governance in 2024, when Mohan Charan Majhi assumed office following the state assembly elections, ending decades of BJD rule. Since then, the state government has publicly aligned its development agenda with central priorities, including Viksit Bharat.
Stakeholders and Impact
In his post, CM Majhi specifically highlighted that the 'India First' philosophy has worked to 'secure and strengthen the country's borders' while simultaneously bringing 'positive change in the lives of the most deprived sections of society.' He described the current moment as a 'golden period of cultural revival' in which Odia identity, art, culture, and heritage have gained 'new glory and dignity on the world stage.'
The Chief Minister also noted that India's growing capability and respect on international platforms has instilled 'a new sense of self-confidence in every Indian.' For Odisha specifically, he asserted that the state's participation in the 'great endeavour of Viksit Bharat' has grown 'wider and stronger,' with the state moving forward to establish 'new benchmarks of industry, prosperity, and social welfare' rooted in Odia identity and self-respect (ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଅସ୍ମିତା ଓ ସ୍ୱାଭିମାନ).
What's Next
The alignment of Odisha's state-level development narrative with the Viksit Bharat framework signals continued coordination between Bhubaneswar and New Delhi on industrial investment, social welfare rollouts, and cultural promotion. Observers will watch for Odisha-specific project announcements tied to central schemes, as well as any international platforms showcasing Odia heritage that could give substance to CM Majhi's stated ambition of a 'Samruddha Odisha' — a prosperous Odisha — as a living reflection of the 'India First' doctrine.
Point of View
Majhi is doing double duty — reinforcing his own regional identity credentials while signalling loyalty to the central leadership. The explicit invocation of Viksit Bharat and 'Samruddha Odisha' in the same breath suggests the state government is positioning itself for greater central resource allocation tied to the 2047 development roadmap. The post also reflects a broader pattern of BJP states using cultural assertion as a political bridge between grassroots identity and pan-Indian nationalist sentiment.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the '12 Years of India First' that Odisha CM Majhi is talking about?
It refers to the 12-year anniversary of Narendra Modi's tenure as Prime Minister, which began in May 2014. CM Majhi used the occasion to argue that the 'India First' policy philosophy has transformed Indian national consciousness over this period.
What is Viksit Bharat and how does Odisha fit into it?
Viksit Bharat is the central government's vision of making India a fully developed nation by 2047. CM Majhi stated that Odisha's participation in this national endeavour has grown wider and stronger, with the state pursuing new benchmarks in industry, prosperity, and social welfare.
What did CM Mohan Majhi say about Odia culture in his post?
Majhi described the current period as a golden era of cultural revival, saying that Odia identity, art, culture, and heritage have gained new glory and dignity on the world stage under the India First framework.
When did the BJP come to power in Odisha?
The BJP came to power in Odisha following the 2024 state assembly elections, with Mohan Charan Majhi becoming Chief Minister, ending decades of BJD governance in the state.
What is 'Samruddha Odisha' mentioned in CM Majhi's post?
'Samruddha Odisha' means 'Prosperous Odisha.' CM Majhi used the phrase to describe his government's goal of building a developed and prosperous Odisha rooted in Odia identity and self-respect, which he called a reflection of the India First doctrine.
