New Delhi, Oct 2026 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed gratitude to the people of India for repeatedly entrusting him with the responsibility of leading governments for 25 consecutive years, saying the public’s faith in him has placed the greatest responsibility on his shoulders.
Modi was addressing a large gathering at the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sabha in New Delhi, where he was welcomed with flowers, BJP flags and chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and “Modi ji ka swagat hai”. Many people also took out their mobile phones to capture the moment.
“When I took oath as the Chief Minister of Gujarat on October 7, 2001, I never thought that I would reach this milestone one day. Today marks my 25th consecutive year as Head of Government,” Modi said.
He described the milestone as a reflection of the continued trust and blessings of the people and expressed gratitude to the Bharatiya Janata Party, the NDA and political colleagues who, he said, have faith in democracy.
“I bow my head and pay my respects to the people of the country. Be it the Assembly or the Lok Sabha elections, people have chosen me for their service for 25 years. Today, I also pay respects to India’s democracy and the Constitution,” the Prime Minister said.
Modi also thanked participants of the Seva Jyoti Yatra, organised as part of programmes marking his 25 years in public life.
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister visited the Shri Vinayak Mandir in Delhi’s Sarojini Nagar and offered prayers on the occasion. He said he sought the blessings of Lord Ganesha for the happiness, prosperity and good health of people across the country.
“For me, the people are also a form of God. The trust of lakhs and crores of countrymen and the hard work of lakhs of workers have always been my greatest strength,” Modi said.
“The country has given me so much. Therefore, my responsibility towards the country is also the greatest. And I sincerely believe that every citizen of the country has the greatest right over me,” he added.
Modi’s political journey as head of government began on October 7, 2001, when he took oath as Gujarat Chief Minister. He assumed charge at a difficult time for the state, which was recovering from the devastating Bhuj earthquake and dealing with political and administrative challenges.
He remained Gujarat Chief Minister until 2014 before moving to national politics. After leading the BJP to victory in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Modi became Prime Minister and subsequently secured mandates in 2019 and 2024.
The Union Cabinet on Tuesday passed a resolution congratulating Modi on completing 25 years of continuous leadership as head of government. The resolution described the milestone as a reflection of public trust and highlighted the continuity between his tenure in Gujarat and his subsequent leadership at the national level.
Modi’s tenure has also coincided with an expanded international profile for India, with the government pursuing greater diplomatic engagement, strengthening ties with major powers and seeking a more prominent role for the country in the Global South.
The Prime Minister has repeatedly linked his political journey with the goal of building a Viksit Bharat by 2047, while describing public service and constitutional values as guiding principles of his governance.
As he marked the milestone, Modi reiterated that the trust placed in him by citizens remained his greatest source of strength and responsibility
