Narendra Modi turned 76 on September 17, when BJP launched a month-long campaign called Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, to commemorate his 25 years in public service. The campaign is expected to run from September 17 to October 17 with a series of public outreach and service-oriented programmes.
On September 17 PM Modi will celebrate his birthday, and on October 7 he will celebrate his 25th year in constitutional office as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. The party has decided to organise the month-long initiative around this anniversary and party workers will participate in public service, development and social outreach.
BJP National President Nitin Nabin had announced the campaign at a press conference at party headquarters on September 9. Modi's journey in public service began on October 7, 2001, when he was appointed Chief Minister of Gujarat. The BJP is capitalising on the 25-year anniversary to display his political and administrative journey from Gujarat to the national stage.
Nabin said Modi’s journey over the past 25 years has been guided by the principle of public service. He described the period as one that encompassed service, development and nation-building, and said the campaign would try to take the message of public service to a wider section of society.
BJP has always celebrated the Prime Minister’s birthday as Seva Diwas, or Day of Service. This year, we are going to extend this practice to a month-long programme at Seva Sankalp Abhiyan. This is going to be a plan to integrate the birthday with the public outreach and service.
The campaign will be launched by Nitin Nabin from Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh, a city associated with Mahakaleshwar temple. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and state BJP president Hemant Khandelwal will be present at the launch.
The BJP said that the nationwide campaign will be organised through various programmes throughout the month. The exact schedule and activities may differ from state to state, but service-oriented and community-oriented programming will be the focus of the initiative.
The 25-year mark is significant for Modi's political career. As Gujarat Chief Minister on October 7, 2001, he served more than 12 years before becoming the Prime Minister of India in May 2014. He will be serving his third consecutive term after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
BJP has framed the anniversary around the theme of sustained public service instead of electoral or political milestones. Nabin said the 25-year journey should be viewed as a commitment to serving people and the nation. The party has also called upon its workers and members of the public to join in the campaign.
PM Modi’s birthday and the completion of 25 years in public service then form the bulk of the BJP’s September-October outreach programme. In a month’s time, the ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ will be a combination of celebrations and public service and organisational outreach across India.
As part of the campaign beginning on September 17, BJP workers across states are expected to participate in programmes leading up to October 7, when Modi completes 25 years since entering constitutional public office. The campaign will continue until October 17, extending the period of service-oriented activities beyond the anniversary itself.
