New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is commemorating a significant milestone in his political career, marking 24 years in governance and stepping into his 25th year as a government leader. On this day, Modi reflected on the anniversary of his first oath as Gujarat's Chief Minister on October 7, 2001.

In a nostalgic post on X, Modi expressed his gratitude to the people of India, acknowledging their continued support throughout his journey. "Thanks to the continuous blessings of my fellow Indians, I am entering my 25th year of serving as the head of a Government. My gratitude to the people of India," he wrote.

Narendra Modi's appointment as Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2001 came at a time of political change in the state. He succeeded Keshubhai Patel of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), becoming the 14th Chief Minister of Gujarat. Patel's health was failing, and the BJP had lost several state assembly seats in by-elections. Allegations of corruption, abuse of power, and poor administration had also damaged Patel's standing, particularly concerning his administration’s handling of the Bhuj earthquake in 2001. The BJP national leadership sought a new candidate for the chief ministership, and Modi, who had voiced concerns regarding Patel's administration, was selected as his replacement. He declined an offer to become Patel's deputy, asserting that he would only accept full responsibility for Gujarat.

On October 3, 2001, Modi replaced Patel. He was sworn in on October 7, 2001, and entered the Gujarat state legislature on February 24, 2002, after winning a by-election in the Rajkot II constituency against Ashwin Mehta of the INC.

Modi served as Gujarat's Chief Minister from 2001 to 2014 before assuming the office of Prime Minister. Throughout his years in public office, Modi has maintained that his constant endeavor has been to improve the lives of citizens and contribute to the nation's progress.