Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha attended the New Delhi launch of 'Apnapan - Narendra Modi Sang Mere Anubhav', a memoir by Union Agriculture Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Tuesday, 26 May 2026. The book documents Chouhan's personal experiences, working style, and emotional connect with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The event drew a cross-party gathering of senior constitutional and political figures from across India.

Context

The book, whose title translates as 'Apnapan' ('A Sense of Belonging — My Experiences with Narendra Modi'), is authored by Shivraj Singh Chouhan, one of the BJP's most prominent organisational figures and a former four-term Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. Chouhan was inducted into the Union Cabinet as Agriculture Minister in July 2023 and has since been a central voice on farm policy at the national level. The launch was held in New Delhi and attended by dignitaries spanning multiple generations of Indian political leadership.

Dr. Saha described the book as one that 'beautifully captures his heartfelt experiences, working style, emotional connect, and inspiring leadership under the guidance of Prime Minister Modi.' The event was graced by former Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, serving Chief Ministers, Union Ministers, and Members of Parliament from across the country.

Policy Backdrop

Since 2014, a number of senior BJP ministers and chief ministers have authored or contributed to books documenting their association with Prime Minister Modi, a pattern that has served to consolidate internal party narratives around governance and leadership continuity. Chouhan's memoir fits squarely within this tradition, with an added dimension: as Agriculture Minister, his account also implicitly chronicles the central government's sustained focus on rural and farm-sector policy over more than a decade.

The presence of H.D. Deve Gowda — a former Prime Minister and leader of the Janata Dal (Secular) — at the event is notable for its cross-party symbolism, underscoring the broad respect Chouhan commands beyond BJP circles. Venkaiah Naidu's attendance similarly signals continuity between the current NDA leadership and earlier constitutional office-holders.

Stakeholders and Impact

The launch is significant for the BJP's internal ecosystem: such events reinforce shared narratives of organisational loyalty and collective purpose among the party's state and central leadership. For the agricultural sector, the memoir's focus on Chouhan's tenure as Agriculture Minister may amplify public awareness of flagship farm schemes and rural welfare programmes pursued since 2014.

The attendance of Chief Ministers from multiple states — including Dr. Saha from Tripura — reflects the event's function as a platform for party cohesion, bringing together leaders from India's northeast, heartland, and other regions under a shared political moment in New Delhi.

What's Next

Upcoming parliamentary sessions may see renewed references to agricultural initiatives highlighted in the book, as Chouhan continues to champion farm-sector legislation from his ministerial portfolio. The pattern of senior BJP figures publishing personal accounts of working with Prime Minister Modi is likely to continue, particularly as several state assemblies approach election cycles. The book's release adds to a growing body of first-person political literature that shapes how the current era of governance is remembered and narrated within the ruling alliance.