CM Bhupendra Patel Takes Unity Oath at Ekta Nagar on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas
Synopsis
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel joined the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas oath ceremony at Ekta Nagar on 31 October 2026, pledging the country's unity, integrity, and security on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary at the Statue of Unity site.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel participated in the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 2026 oath ceremony at Ekta Nagar on 31 October .
The occasion marks the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel , India's first Deputy Prime Minister and architect of national integration.
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas was first institutionalised in 2014 by the central government to honour Patel's legacy.
Ekta Nagar , home to the Statue of Unity on the banks of the Narmada river in Gujarat , serves as the primary national venue for the day's observances.
PM Narendra Modi was tagged by CM Patel, underscoring the joint Central-State character of the annual event.
On the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel joined the nation in pledging allegiance to India's unity, integrity, and security at Ekta Nagar on 31 October 2026 — the site that carries the Iron Man's legacy in stone and spirit.
Posting in Gujarati, CM Patel wrote: 'એકતાનગર ખાતે દેશની એકતા, અખંડિતતા અને સુરક્ષાના શપથ..' — 'Oath of the country's unity, integrity and security at Ekatanagar' — tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and marking the occasion with #RashtriyaEktaDiwas2026.
Why Ekta Nagar Is the Epicentre of This Day
Ekta Nagar, home to the Statue of Unity — the world's tallest statue, dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel — has become the symbolic ground zero for Rashtriya Ekta Diwas observances. The site, situated along the Narmada river in Gujarat, transforms every 31 October into a living testament to Patel's defining mission: the integration of a fragmented subcontinent into a single republic.
The annual oath-taking ceremony here is not ceremonial window-dressing. It is a deliberate, structured ritual — citizens, officials, and leaders reciting a pledge that binds them to the idea of an indivisible India.
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas: From 2014 to a National Institution
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas was first observed in 2014, when the central government formally instituted the day to honour Sardar Patel's unparalleled role in post-independence national integration. Over more than a decade, the BJP-led governments at the Centre and in Gujarat have built the occasion into one of the country's most prominent patriotic observances, anchored at Ekta Nagar with oath ceremonies, marches, and public programmes.
PM Modi has been a consistent presence — in person or symbolically — at these events, reinforcing the ruling dispensation's framing of Patel as a foundational national icon.
Gujarat's Custodianship of the Patel Legacy
As Chief Minister of Gujarat — Patel's home state — Bhupendra Patel carries a particular weight in these observances. The Gujarat administration has played a central role in institutionalising the Ekta Nagar site and the rituals around it, positioning the state as the custodian of Sardar Patel's integrationist legacy. Today's oath is both a civic act and a political statement: that the values of unity and territorial integrity remain non-negotiable.
Thirteen years since its founding, Rashtriya Ekta Diwas has outgrown its origins as a government notification — it now reaches classrooms, cantonment grounds, and state capitals across India every October.
Point of View
Broadcasting the ruling alliance's pitch on territorial integrity at a moment when unity narratives carry high resonance. Thirteen editions in, the question is whether the observance deepens into genuine civic culture or remains primarily a government-driven mobilisation event.
NationPress
31 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and when is it observed?
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, or National Unity Day, is observed every year on 31 October to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. It was first instituted by the central government in 2014 .
What is Ekta Nagar and where is it located?
Ekta Nagar is a town in Gujarat on the banks of the Narmada river, home to the Statue of Unity — the world's tallest statue, dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
What did Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel do on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 2026?
CM Bhupendra Patel participated in the oath-taking ceremony at Ekta Nagar , pledging to uphold the country's unity, integrity, and security, and shared the moment on social media tagging PM Modi.
Why is the Statute of Unity associated with Rashtriya Ekta Diwas?
The Statue of Unity is a tribute to Sardar Patel, whose central achievement was integrating India's princely states into a unified republic. Ekta Nagar has since become the primary venue for annual Rashtriya Ekta Diwas observances.
Who was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel?
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, credited with the political integration of over 500 princely states into the Indian Union after independence in 1947.
