PM Modi pays floral tribute at Statue of Unity on Patel Jayanti
Synopsis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid floral tributes at the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat on 31 October 2026, marking Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary. Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary shared the moment live on X, spotlighting the BJP's annual commemoration at the world's tallest statue.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi offered a floral tribute at the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat on 31 October 2026 .
The occasion marks Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary , observed nationally as Patel Jayanti.
The Statue of Unity , inaugurated by Modi on 31 October 2018 , is the world's tallest statue at 182 metres .
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary broadcast the moment live on X , amplifying it across BJP networks.
The annual tribute at Ekta Nagar has become a defining BJP ritual linking the party to Patel's legacy of national integration.
Every year on 31 October, India pauses to remember the man who stitched its map together — and this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary by offering a floral tribute at the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat.
A salute at the world's tallest statue
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary shared the moment live on X, posting: 'माननीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री Narendra Modi जी ने गुजरात के एकता नगर में स्टैच्यू ऑफ यूनिटी पर पुष्पांजलि अर्पित की' ('Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered floral tributes at the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar, Gujarat'). The gesture, broadcast live, drew attention from BJP leaders across the country.
The Statue of Unity — standing at 182 metres, the tallest statue in the world — was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on 31 October 2018, precisely on Patel's birth anniversary. The site in Narmada district, formerly known as Kevadia and renamed Ekta Nagar, was chosen as a permanent monument to national integration.
Sardar Patel's legacy and the politics of remembrance
Paying tribute at the Statue of Unity on Patel Jayanti has become an annual ritual for the BJP-led government — a deliberate act of reclamation around a figure the party positions as the true architect of a unified India. The monument was conceived as both a historical landmark and a living symbol of that political memory.
For senior BJP leaders like Samrat Choudhary, amplifying the moment on social media underscores the party's continued effort to keep Patel's legacy at the centre of national discourse, especially as the Iron Man of India's anniversary coincides with the anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination — a date laden with political significance for multiple parties.
Point of View
Positioning Sardar Patel as the ideological ancestor of the current ruling order. By having senior leaders like Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary broadcast the tribute live, the party ensures the moment resonates well beyond Gujarat. The choice of Ekta Nagar — national integration in name and symbol — as the backdrop keeps the narrative anchored to unity, a theme the BJP returns to consistently at moments of political significance. Rival parties will continue to contest ownership of Patel's memory, making this date one of the more contested anniversaries on India's political calendar.
NationPress
31 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does PM Modi visit the Statue of Unity on 31 October every year?
31 October is Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary , known as Patel Jayanti. PM Modi inaugurated the Statue of Unity on this date in 2018 , and paying floral tributes there annually has since become a formal commemoration of Patel's legacy.
Where is the Statue of Unity located?
The Statue of Unity is located in Ekta Nagar (formerly Kevadia), in the Narmada district of Gujarat . It stands on the Sadhu Bet island facing the Sardar Sarovar Dam .
How tall is the Statue of Unity?
The Statue of Unity stands at 182 metres (approximately 597 feet), making it the world's tallest statue .
Who is Samrat Choudhary and why did he post about this?
Samrat Choudhary is the Chief Minister of Bihar and a senior BJP leader. Sharing updates about Prime Minister Modi's official events is common practice among BJP state leaders, particularly on nationally significant occasions like Patel Jayanti.
What is the significance of 31 October in India?
31 October is observed as Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) in honour of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's birth anniversary . The date also marks the assassination anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, giving the day a layered political significance.
