PM Modi turns 76: Leaders send birthday greetings, BJP plans month-long outreach

Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned 76 on Thursday, September 17, with Union ministers, BJP leaders and other political figures extending birthday greetings and referring to his years in public life. The BJP has also announced a month-long outreach campaign linked to his 25 years in public life.

Modi turns 76

Narendra Modi was born on September 17, 1950, in Vadnagar, Gujarat. He became Gujarat chief minister in 2001 and took office as India's prime minister in May 2014. He began his third consecutive term as prime minister in June 2024. His official biography records his earlier association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and his subsequent work within the BJP organisation.

This year's birthday also comes after a milestone recorded in June, when the Union Cabinet said Modi had become India's longest-serving elected prime minister in terms of continuous service, crossing Jawaharlal Nehru's previous record.

Union ministers and BJP leaders extend wishes

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and several other Union ministers posted birthday messages for Modi.

Their messages focused largely on his public life, governance and government programmes. Shah referred to Modi's political career as an example of national service and cited initiatives and decisions including infrastructure projects, welfare schemes, Article 370, surgical strikes, air strikes and Operation Sindoor.

These are political assessments made by Shah in his birthday messages rather than independent evaluations of the government's record.

BJP president Nitin Nabin, BJP spokesperson Anil Baluni and other party leaders also highlighted Modi's years in public life and the BJP government's development and welfare agenda.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other BJP leaders similarly praised Modi's leadership and referred to themes including development, self-reliance and governance.

Greetings also come from leaders outside the BJP

The birthday messages were not limited to BJP leaders. DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin also extended greetings to Modi, wishing him good health, happiness and a long life.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also posted a birthday message, referring to Modi's public life and his contribution to governance and development.

The range of messages reflects the prime minister's position at the centre of national politics, with political leaders and constitutional office-holders marking his birthday in different ways.

BJP announces month-long outreach campaign

The BJP has planned a month-long campaign called the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan in the Kashi region from September 17 to October 17. According to the material released by the party, the programme is linked to Modi completing 25 years in public life.

One of the planned activities is a motorcycle journey from Kashi to Vadnagar in Gujarat. The organisers said the journey would begin in Kashi on September 17 and conclude in Vadnagar around October 7.

The campaign is being presented by the BJP as an outreach programme centred on public service, welfare, governance and the party's broader political messaging.

Why the 25-year milestone is being highlighted

The BJP and its leaders are using the 25-year milestone to frame Modi's political career as a period spanning state and national governance. Modi became Gujarat chief minister in October 2001 and remained in the post until 2014, when he moved to national office.

He has subsequently served as prime minister for more than 12 years. In June 2026, the Union Cabinet officially marked his record for continuous service as an elected prime minister.

The 2026 birthday therefore comes amid continued political messaging around both his tenure as prime minister and his longer career in public life.