‘I bow down before the people of my country’: PM Modi marks 25 years at helm

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday marked 25 years at the head of government, using the milestone to thank India's people and reflect on a political journey that began in Gujarat and eventually led him to the Prime Minister’s Office. 

Addressing a gathering in Delhi, Modi said the quarter-century milestone was possible because of the trust and support he had received from citizens over successive elections.

He recalled October 7, 2001, when he first took oath as Gujarat Chief Minister, and said he never imagined then that he would go on to complete 25 years as head of government.

Modi said the people had repeatedly given him the opportunity to serve them and expressed gratitude for their continued support.

‘I bow down before the people of my country,’ he said, placing the people and the democratic process at the centre of his reflections on the milestone.

He began his journey as head of government in Gujarat, where he served as chief minister from October 2001 to May 2014.

He then moved to the national stage after the BJP's victory in the 2014 Lok Sabha election and took office as Prime Minister. He subsequently returned to power in 2019 and 2024 and is currently serving his third consecutive term.

From Gujarat to the Centre

Looking back at the years since 2001, Modi's address focused on the mandate he has received from voters across state and national elections.

His political career at the top of government has spanned three Gujarat Assembly mandates and three successive Lok Sabha victories.

The milestone comes with the BJP and its allies organising events across the country to mark what they describe as 25 years of public service.

The celebrations have included programmes centred on Modi's journey from Gujarat to Delhi.

The Union Cabinet had already marked the occasion a day earlier. At its October 6 meeting, the Cabinet adopted a resolution congratulating Modi on completing 25 years of continuous leadership as head of a government.

The resolution covers the period from October 7, 2001, when Modi became Gujarat chief minister, to October 7, 2026. It described the period as an uninterrupted stretch of public service and highlighted what it called the principle of ‘Nation First and Citizen First’.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said Modi received a standing ovation from his Cabinet colleagues after the resolution was adopted.

The Cabinet resolution also listed areas including welfare delivery, infrastructure, economic reforms, technology, national security and foreign policy while tracing the government's record during Modi's tenure.

It highlighted initiatives and developments such as Jan Dhan, PM-KISAN, UPI, GST, infrastructure expansion, electronics manufacturing, India's COVID-19 vaccine program, and Chandrayaan-3.

Prayers before the milestone address

Before the day's political events, Modi visited Shri Vinayak Mandir in Sarojini Nagar, New Delhi, where he offered prayers and performed rituals.

In a post following the visit, Modi said he had prayed to Lord Ganesha for the happiness, prosperity, and good health of people across the country. He also sought blessings for the nation's continued progress.

The temple visit added a personal and spiritual note to a day centred on Modi's long political career.

He began his tenure as Gujarat chief minister on October 7, 2001, and exactly 25 years later, the milestone was being marked with official recognition from the Union Cabinet and public events organised by the BJP and its allies.

For Modi, the anniversary therefore marks more than a date on the political calendar. It marks 25 continuous years at the head of government, first in Gujarat and later at the national level.

In his address, however, Modi framed the milestone around those who repeatedly put their trust in him through the electoral process. He expressed gratitude, acknowledging the people whose mandates have carried him from Gandhinagar to New Delhi.  

‘I bow down before the people of my country,’ Modi said, bringing his 25-year political journey back to the citizens who have been central to every stage of it.