PM Modi @76: BJP launches nationwide outreach to mark 25 years of public service

NEW DELHI, SEPT 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 76th birthday on Thursday was marked by celebrations across the country, with BJP workers and NDA leaders organising prayer ceremonies, havans, pujans, bike rallies and lamp-lighting events to commemorate his 25 years in public life.

The BJP launched its month-long ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’, running from September 17 to October 17, to highlight Modi’s journey in public service and his emphasis on the principle of “Nation First”.

The celebrations began in Vadnagar, Modi’s birthplace, where Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched the campaign. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Union Minister Anupriya Patel were also present as a bike rally from Vadnagar to Varanasi was flagged off.

The Prime Minister’s birthday was also acknowledged at the opening session of SEMICON India 2026 at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi. The gathering broke into applause and greeted Modi with birthday wishes as he took the stage.

In Varanasi, Modi’s Lok Sabha constituency, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and other senior BJP and NDA leaders participated in celebrations. Special rituals were performed at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, with Union Minister Chirag Paswan also joining the prayers.

BJP president Nitin Nabin extended birthday greetings to Modi, saying that under his leadership the country was progressing on the path of development and self-reliance while strengthening its position internationally.

As part of the campaign, BJP workers and supporters have been encouraged to light earthen lamps under the ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ initiative at homes, temples and other locations. Several large-scale lamp-lighting programmes were also organised across the country.

Addressing the gathering in Vadnagar, Shah highlighted Modi’s long public career and said that during more than 25 years in public life, no allegation of corruption or malpractice had been levelled against him.

The BJP’s outreach comes ahead of several state Assembly elections, including those in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Goa and Manipur, while Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh are scheduled to go to the polls in 2027.

The campaign is also intended to highlight Modi’s political journey, welfare initiatives and public-service narrative, with youth being placed at the centre of several programmes.

Political analysts have viewed the month-long campaign as both a celebration of Modi’s public career and an effort to strengthen the BJP’s grassroots organisation and public outreach ahead of upcoming electoral contests. Some analysts have also linked the initiative to recent outreach programmes by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi among youth and other social groups.

The BJP has said the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ will focus on public service and seek to reconnect with citizens, particularly young people, while mobilising party workers across the country.