CM Sai, Smriti Irani tune in to Mann Ki Baat Episode 139 in Raipur
Synopsis
Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai and former Union Minister Smriti Irani attended a collective listening event for Mann Ki Baat Episode 139 at Abhanpur in Raipur district on 25 October 2026, reinforcing state-centre alignment under the Viksit Bharat theme.
Key Takeaways
CM Vishnu Deo Sai and former Union Minister Smriti Irani attended a collective Mann Ki Baat listening event on 25 October 2026 .
The event was held at Shri Ashutosh Alka Agrawal Mangal Bhavan, Abhanpur, Raipur district .
It marked the 139th episode of PM Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme, which has aired since October 2014 .
The CMO framed the event under the #JanBhagidari theme, emphasising citizen participation and the Viksit Bharat vision.
The event continues a pattern of BJP-ruled states organising public listening events to amplify central government messaging.
A state capital, a community hall, and the unmistakable voice of the Prime Minister on the airwaves — Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai joined former Union Minister Smriti Irani on Sunday, 25 October 2026, to listen collectively to the 139th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, at Shri Ashutosh Alka Agrawal Mangal Bhavan in Abhanpur, Raipur district.
What the 139th episode carries forward
Mann Ki Baat — literally 'the heart's words' — has been Prime Minister Modi's direct channel to citizens since October 2014, a monthly radio address that skips the filter of press conferences and political rallies. Each episode spotlights citizen-led innovation, grassroots initiatives, and stories of social transformation aligned with the Viksit Bharat (Developed India) vision. The Chhattisgarh CMO's post described the programme as 'sharing inspiring stories of innovation, the strength of people's power, and positive change happening across the country — giving new energy to the resolve of national service and a developed India.'
Why Abhanpur, and why together
The collective listening event at Abhanpur — a town roughly 30 kilometres from central Raipur — follows a well-established pattern among BJP-governed states: amplify the Prime Minister's monthly address through organised, on-ground gatherings that turn a radio broadcast into a visible public moment. Smriti Irani, who held the Information and Broadcasting portfolio in an earlier Modi cabinet, brings particular symbolic weight to an event centred on public broadcasting. Her presence alongside CM Sai — himself a BJP leader who took charge of Chhattisgarh in December 2023 — underscores the alignment between the state government and the central messaging on citizen participation.
Chhattisgarh's 'Jan Bhagidari' frame
The CMO tagged the event under #JanBhagidari — 'people's participation' — a recurring theme in BJP governance language that frames policy delivery as a two-way compact between citizens and government. For a state like Chhattisgarh, which spans dense forests, tribal belts, and fast-urbanising corridors, the Mann Ki Baat platform offers a soft-power bridge between Raipur and villages that conventional outreach may not easily reach. The 139th episode continues that project — one broadcast at a time.
With each collective listening event, the message travels further than any single radio signal can carry.
Point of View
Converting a radio broadcast into a visible act of political solidarity. Smriti Irani's presence adds a broadcasting-policy layer that goes beyond routine optics. For Chhattisgarh's relatively young BJP administration — less than three years old — such events also serve an internal party-building function, keeping cadres energised around a shared national narrative. The 'Jan Bhagidari' framing, meanwhile, quietly positions the state government as a facilitator of citizen empowerment rather than a top-down authority.
NationPress
25 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mann Ki Baat and when did it start?
Mann Ki Baat is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio address to citizens, launched in October 2014. It highlights grassroots innovation, citizen achievements, and national development themes.
Which episode of Mann Ki Baat was broadcast on 25 October 2026?
The 139th episode of Mann Ki Baat aired on 25 October 2026.
Where did CM Vishnu Deo Sai listen to Mann Ki Baat on 25 October 2026?
CM Vishnu Deo Sai listened to the broadcast at Shri Ashutosh Alka Agrawal Mangal Bhavan in Abhanpur, Raipur district, Chhattisgarh.
Why was Smriti Irani present at the Chhattisgarh Mann Ki Baat event?
Smriti Irani, former Union Minister and BJP leader, joined CM Sai at the collective listening event in Abhanpur. Her past role in the Information and Broadcasting ministry adds symbolic significance to a public broadcasting-focused programme.
What does Jan Bhagidari mean in the context of Mann Ki Baat events?
'Jan Bhagidari' means people's participation. The BJP uses the term to frame collective listening events as an expression of citizens actively engaging with the Prime Minister's national development vision.
