Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 2026: Delhi L-G Sandhu pays tribute to Sardar Patel on 151st birth anniversary
Synopsis
On Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, Delhi L-G T.S. Sandhu joined President Murmu, VP Radhakrishnan, and Home Minister Amit Shah to pay floral tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 151st birth anniversary — capping the day with the 'Run for Unity' and a 'Sardar Katha' programme that recalled Patel's unification of over 560 princely states.
Key Takeaways
Sandhu paid tributes to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 151st birth anniversary on 31 October at multiple events in New Delhi .
A floral tribute was offered at Sardar Patel Chowk, Sansad Marg , attended by President Droupadi Murmu , VP C.P.
Radhakrishnan , and Home Minister Amit Shah .
Sandhu participated in 'Sardar Katha' at the VP's Enclave , recalling Patel's role in uniting over 560 princely states .
The annual 'Run for Unity' was flagged off by Home Minister Amit Shah , drawing participants from across the capital.
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas has been observed on 31 October every year since 2014 to mark Patel's birth anniversary.
Delhi Lieutenant Governor T.S. Sandhu on 31 October paid homage to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his 151st birth anniversary, joining a series of events across New Delhi — including a floral tribute ceremony at Sardar Patel Chowk, Sansad Marg and a cultural programme at the Vice President's Enclave — to mark Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day).
Tributes at Sardar Patel Chowk
Sandhu joined President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and Member of Parliament Bansuri Swaraj at Sardar Patel Chowk near Parliament to offer floral tributes. In a post on X, Sandhu described Patel as the 'Lauh Purush' (Iron Man) whose 'steadfast resolve and monumental legacy of national unity remain the guiding light and talisman for an integrated, united and resilient Viksit Bharat.'
'Sardar Katha' at the Vice President's Enclave
The Lieutenant Governor also participated in 'Sardar Katha', a commemorative programme hosted by Vice President Radhakrishnan at the VP's Enclave. Sandhu recalled Patel's pivotal role in leading the Bardoli Satyagraha, uniting more than 560 princely states into the Indian Union, and laying the administrative foundations of independent India. He urged the youth to prioritise nation-building over personal ambition, invoking Patel's values of discipline, integrity, and unity.
Run for Unity flagged off
Sandhu also participated in the annual 'Run for Unity' flagged off by Home Minister Amit Shah, alongside Union Ministers Mansukh Mandaviya, Nityanand Rai, and Bandi Sanjay, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and MP Bansuri Swaraj. The run drew participants from all walks of life and is held every year on 31 October to reinforce Patel's message of national integration and communal harmony.
Patel's legacy and Rashtriya Ekta Diwas
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas has been observed on 31 October — Patel's birth anniversary — since its launch in 2014. Patel, India's first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, is credited with engineering the integration of over 560 semi-autonomous princely states into the Indian Republic following independence in 1947, a feat historians regard as one of the most complex feats of modern statecraft. The annual observance serves both as a commemoration and as a civic call for national cohesion.
Point of View
Attended by the President, Vice President, and Home Minister in a single stretch, reflect how institutionalised the occasion has become. What the day rarely surfaces is a substantive policy debate on the federal tensions Patel himself navigated — between central authority and state autonomy — a tension very much alive in contemporary India. The celebrations are sincere, but the conversation they inspire could go much deeper.
NationPress
31 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and why is it observed on 31 October?
Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, or National Unity Day, is observed on 31 October every year — the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel — since its launch in 2014. It honours Patel's role in uniting over 560 princely states into independent India and serves as an annual civic reminder of national integration.
Who attended the Sardar Patel tribute ceremony in New Delhi on 31 October 2026?
President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, MP Bansuri Swaraj, and Delhi L-G T.S. Sandhu were among those who paid floral tributes at Sardar Patel Chowk, Sansad Marg.
What was the 'Run for Unity' held on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas 2026?
The 'Run for Unity' is an annual run organised on 31 October to mark Sardar Patel's birth anniversary. In 2026, it was flagged off by Home Minister Amit Shah alongside several Union Ministers, the Delhi Chief Minister, and citizens from across the capital.
What is Sardar Patel's key legacy that was recalled at the 151st anniversary events?
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel is credited with integrating over 560 semi-autonomous princely states into the Indian Union after independence in 1947. He also led the Bardoli Satyagraha and shaped India's administrative foundations as its first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister.
What was the 'Sardar Katha' programme held at the VP's Enclave?
Sardar Katha was a commemorative cultural programme hosted by Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan at the Vice President's Enclave on 31 October 2026. Delhi L-G T.S. Sandhu participated and recalled Patel's historic contributions to national unity and Indian statecraft.
