Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Friday, 10 October 2025, congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on completing 25 years in public service, asserting that several development initiatives first piloted in Gujarat under Modi's leadership had subsequently been scaled into flagship national programmes. Patel made the remarks at a press conference in Gandhinagar, flanked by Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi and government spokesperson Minister Jitu Vaghani.

A Journey Rooted in 'Service, Not Power'

Patel traced Modi's public service career to 7 October 2001, when the Prime Minister assumed office as Gujarat Chief Minister. He said the journey had been defined by the guiding principles of 'Service, Not Power' and 'Nation First'. 'PM Modi had introduced a new approach to governance based on development and performance, with the mantra of Reform, Perform, Transform, and had sought to turn challenges into opportunities through a clear vision and decisive leadership,' Patel said.

He credited Modi's track record in Gujarat with giving him the national mandate in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, arguing that the state's development model served as a template for governance at the Centre. As Prime Minister, Patel said, Modi had continued to function as the country's 'Pradhan Sevak', ushering in what he described as an era of performance-driven politics.

Gujarat Schemes That Became National Programmes

Drawing explicit parallels between state-level experiments and Union government schemes, Patel cited a string of examples. The MA Amrutam health scheme was expanded into Ayushman Bharat; Jyotigram Yojana — which improved electricity supply to villages — evolved into the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana; and Nirmal Gujarat became the foundation for the Swachh Bharat Mission.

He also pointed to Jal Mandir scaling into Amrit Sarovar, Kanya Kelavani expanding into Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, and Khel Mahakumbh in Gujarat giving rise to the nationwide Khelo India programme. The Vibrant Gujarat Global Investment Summit, launched in 2003, was cited as a precursor to India's broader investor-outreach strategy.

Patel said Modi's development agenda extended well beyond physical infrastructure, encompassing housing, sanitation, financial inclusion, healthcare security and Garib Kalyan Melas — all aimed at delivering welfare benefits directly to citizens. He specifically highlighted PM-KISAN, the promotion of natural farming, the Ujjwala Yojana and efforts to increase women's participation in decision-making.

Gujarat's Infrastructure and Industrial Ambitions

Turning to future-facing projects, Patel underlined several large-scale initiatives expected to drive Gujarat's economic growth. These include the Ahmedabad-Dholera rail and expressway corridor, the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor, a railway locomotive manufacturing unit in Dahod and defence aircraft manufacturing in Vadodara.

He also highlighted the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) and the India International Bullion Exchange at GIFT City. 'The hybrid renewable energy park at Khavda in Kutch, the CNG terminal in Bhavnagar and the expansion of the semiconductor sector are positioning Gujarat for growth in clean energy, advanced technology and manufacturing,' Patel said. He added that six semiconductor projects under the Semiconductor Mission were part of the state's efforts to emerge as a major semiconductor hub.

Global Responsibility and Viksit Bharat 2047

Patel also invoked India's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, saying Modi had demonstrated global responsibility by promoting indigenous vaccine development and supplying vaccines to other countries. He cited the principle of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' — the world as one family — as the philosophical underpinning of India's strengthened international standing under Modi.

Looking ahead, Patel said the Prime Minister's emphasis on self-reliance, innovation and skill development was creating opportunities for young people and contributing to the goal of 'Viksit Bharat-2047'. As the Modi government enters the next phase of its third term, the Gujarat model — and its claimed lineage to national policy — will continue to be a political reference point for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).