Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday, 17 September 2026, declared that no political leader in independent India has completed a cumulative 25-year tenure as both a state chief minister and a prime minister — a milestone he attributed exclusively to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shah made the remarks at Vadnagar, Modi's birthplace in Gujarat, during the launch of the 'Seva Sankalp Abhiyan' at Sharmishtha Lake.

What the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan Is About

The campaign, running from 17 September to 7 October 2026, is designed to carry the message of PM Modi's 25 years in public life to citizens across the country. 7 October marks the date Modi first assumed charge as Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2001, making the anniversary a symbolic anchor for the programme.

As part of the launch, a Vadnagar-to-Varanasi service yatra was also flagged off, linking Modi's birthplace with his parliamentary constituency and what Shah described as his political 'karmabhoomi'. According to Shah, around 300 bikers will ride from Vadnagar and another 300 from Varanasi — totalling 600 riders — passing through villages across seven states. The journey, Shah noted, would connect Hatkeshwar Mahadev in Vadnagar with Kashi Vishwanath in Varanasi.

Shah's Claim: An Unmatched Political Record

'Since the country became independent till today, no politician has made a record of serving for 25 years as the head of a state and as the head of the country,' Shah said, describing Modi as the 'only leader' to have continuously received electoral mandates across this period.

He framed the campaign not merely as a birthday celebration but as an effort to introduce PM Modi's life and career to younger generations. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners have collectively decided to mark the occasion at the national level, Shah added.

Before and After 2014: Shah's Account

Recounting his travels across India between 2010 and 2013, Shah said he encountered 'deep disappointment' among people, citing corruption cases, internal security concerns, and questions over external security. He described the pre-2014 period as one of 'policy paralysis.'

'When Modi ji became prime minister in 2014, and in 2026, 140 crore Indians are moving forward with enthusiasm, resolve and hope that by 2047 India will be foremost in the world,' Shah said, attributing a shift in public confidence to the subsequent period.

Shah linked this to India's economic trajectory, claiming the country had moved from what he termed the 'Fragile Five' grouping to becoming the world's fastest-growing major economy. He cited the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile (JAM) trinity, and direct benefit transfers as key reforms. Banking reforms, foreign direct investment, and production-linked incentives were also named as contributors to manufacturing growth.

Infrastructure, Security and Social Measures Cited

Shah pointed to infrastructure expansion across roads, railways, airports, ports, and digital networks. He noted that the number of airports had grown from 75 to 150 and cited PM Gati Shakti as a technology-driven effort to coordinate projects with time-bound implementation.

On national security, Shah referenced the abrogation of Article 370, the abolition of triple talaq, the Citizenship Amendment Act, new criminal codes, the stated goal of making India free of Naxalism, peace agreements in the North-East, and military operations including the surgical strikes, air strikes, and Operation Sindoor.

He also credited the period with expanding opportunities for women in the armed forces, police, science, start-ups, drones, and sports, and mentioned Eklavya schools, PM Janman, and Vibrant Villages in the context of tribal welfare. Space achievements — Chandrayaan, Aditya-L1, and the naming of the Shiv Shakti Point — alongside One Rank One Pension and the creation of the Chief of Defence Staff were also listed.

Modi's Gujarat Record and the 'Gujarat Model'

Turning to Modi's tenure as Gujarat's chief minister, Shah highlighted the state's achievement of 24-hour electricity supply to villages, agricultural development, the Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana, the Sagarkhedu development scheme, and the Vibrant Gujarat investment summits.

'This is not only a question of convenience. As soon as electricity arrived, business arrived. As soon as electricity arrived, education arrived. As soon as electricity arrived, health arrived. As soon as electricity arrived, infrastructure arrived,' Shah said, underscoring the multiplier effect of rural electrification.

He described the Vanbandhu and Sagarkhedu schemes as efforts to make development 'sarvasparshi' and 'sarvasamaveshi' — reaching tribal communities and coastal villages alike — and argued that the Gujarat model formed the basis of the political mandate Modi received nationally in 2014.

With the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan now under way, the BJP's organisational machinery is set to keep the 25-year milestone at the centre of its public messaging through the lead-up to 7 October.