Modi Marks 25 Years as Head of Government, Says Public Trust Is His Greatest Strength

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday marked a quarter century as the head of an elected government, telling a large BJP gathering in New Delhi that the trust of ordinary Indians had carried him through 25 unbroken years in office.

The milestone dates to October 7, 2001, when Modi was sworn in as chief minister of Gujarat without having previously won an election. He held that post for more than 12 years before becoming prime minister in 2014, and is now in his third term. The 76-year-old addressed the event, staged by the BJP as part of its Seva Sankalp Abhiyan campaign, at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium.

Credit to voters and party workers

Modi framed the anniversary as something owed to the public rather than a personal achievement. He said he had never imagined reaching this point when he first took oath in Gandhinagar, and thanked voters, BJP workers, NDA allies and, more broadly, everyone who believes in democracy. The experience built over 25 years, he argued, belongs to the country and not to him alone, and the people of India therefore have the first claim on his time.

He returned repeatedly to the idea of service, describing it as his dharma and saying he lives for a mission rather than personal ambition.

Lessons from crises

A notable part of the speech was a list of moments he said had shaped him. He cited the 2001 Bhuj earthquake in Gujarat as a lesson in persistence during reconstruction, the setback in India's Chandrayaan lunar programme as a lesson in recovering from failure, and the Covid pandemic as proof of what collective national effort can achieve.

He also spoke about his detractors. Modi said critics had pushed him to look inward and that those who tried to pull him down had taught him how to get back up, while supporters had shown him the value of trust. He thanked the media too, describing his relationship with it as a mix of bitter and sweet experiences.

Eyes on 2047

The prime minister said the day was not only about looking back but about renewing a commitment for the years ahead. He linked the anniversary to the government's goal of making India a developed nation by 2047 and closed with a repeated rallying cry that the country would get there.

Senior cabinet colleagues joined in the tributes through the morning. Home Minister Amit Shah called it a historic day for Indian democracy, while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh highlighted that Modi had not taken a single day of leave in 25 years. The BJP has also organised Seva Jyoti yatras and related events in several states to mark the occasion.

A contrasting political backdrop

The celebrations came amid sharp political friction in the capital. Traffic restrictions were placed on several central Delhi roads for the stadium event, and on the same day opposition parties sought a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu over their campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, whom they accuse of bias. The INDIA bloc has been escalating that campaign for several days (see our earlier coverage). Bypolls for five assembly seats and one Lok Sabha seat across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Puducherry are also under way, with counting due on October 9.

For the BJP, the anniversary is a chance to project continuity and long experience in office. For the opposition, it is another moment to press questions about institutions and electoral fairness. Both lines of argument are likely to sharpen as the country heads into the next round of state elections.

This is an original summary based on public reporting. See our editorial policy for how we source, write, and correct our stories.