Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Tuesday, 26 May 2026, publicly endorsed 'Apnapan', a book authored by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan that chronicles Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public life, governance philosophy, and leadership journey. Patel praised the work as an important effort to understand the various dimensions of Modi's public service and organisational values.

Context

Writing on X, Patel described 'Apnapan' — which translates broadly as 'a sense of belonging' — as a book 'based on the inspiring journey of the personality, leadership and national service' of Prime Minister Modi. He noted that the book draws on Chouhan's own experiences, learnings, and personal memories of working alongside Modi, presenting themes of 'leadership sensitivity, worker dedication, public participation and the spirit of nation first.'

Patel concluded his post with warm wishes for the book's success, tagging Chouhan directly. The post was written in Hindi and accompanied by a video.

Policy Backdrop

Shivraj Singh Chouhan, currently a Union Cabinet Minister and former five-term Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, has worked closely with Modi across several decades within the BJP's organisational structure. His account in 'Apnapan' is positioned as an insider's perspective on how Modi's leadership style shaped governance at both the state and national levels.

Modi's tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister from 2001 to 2014 is widely referenced within the BJP as the foundation of what became known as the 'Gujarat model' — an approach centred on administrative efficiency, party discipline, and direct public outreach. Books and memoirs by senior BJP colleagues that document this period and its lessons form a recurring feature of the party's internal and public communication.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary audience for 'Apnapan' is BJP's extensive cadre network, party workers, and readers interested in contemporary Indian political leadership. Endorsements from sitting chief ministers such as Patel lend the book institutional weight and are likely to amplify its reach within party circles across states.

Senior BJP leaders regularly use such public endorsements to reinforce a shared leadership narrative — one that frames Modi's career around themes of selfless governance, organisational commitment, and national interest. Patel's post fits within this broader pattern of party communication.

What's Next

Further endorsements or formal launch events involving other central and state BJP leaders are expected to follow. The book's themes — worker dedication, public participation, and 'nation first' — may also surface in party messaging ahead of future electoral cycles, as the BJP continues to build and disseminate its leadership narrative through personal accounts by senior colleagues.