PM Modi on Friday appeared to put retirement speculation to rest, declaring at a public gathering in Gujarat’s Banaskantha that he would remain dedicated to serving the people until the last moment of his life
BY PC Bureau
October 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday appeared to put speculation and political discussion over his retirement to rest, declaring that he would remain committed to public service until the last moment of his life.
Addressing a public gathering in Banaskantha during his two-day Gujarat visit, Modi said he would continue serving the people for as long as he lived. “Jeevan ke antim kshan tak janta ki seva mein hi juta rahunga,” he said, making clear that he had no intention of stepping away from public life on his own account.
Recalling his journey from an ordinary family to the highest elected office in the country, Modi said generations in his family had never even imagined that one of them could become a village head. Yet people first entrusted him with the responsibility of serving Gujarat and later the entire nation.
“Service to the people leads to service to the nation, and the development of Gujarat contributes to the development of the country,” he said. Crediting citizens for whatever he had achieved, Modi said he would remain indebted to them throughout his life.
The declaration comes amid periodic political speculation over the Prime Minister’s retirement, including questions raised in public debate about the age at which senior leaders should step aside. Modi, however, offered no retirement timeline and instead used the Banaskantha platform to reaffirm his intention to remain engaged in public service.
जीवन के अंतिम क्षण तक… आपकी सेवा में ही जुटा रहूंगा: PM @narendramodi in Banaskantha
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 30, 2026
His remarks also came days after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge made a controversial comment about Modi’s political future. Without directly making the event a response to that remark, the Prime Minister used his address to underline his personal commitment to the people.
Modi recalled that one of his first major public programmes after becoming Gujarat Chief Minister in 2001 was held in the Banaskantha region. The event, a Lok Kalyan Mela in the Deesa area, had drawn around three lakh people, he said. Returning to the region after 25 years, he described the occasion as a reminder of his long association with Gujarat.
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Friday’s gathering featured a traditional Khatla Sabha, with people seated on village charpais. Modi praised the arrangement for preserving rural traditions and joked that the unusual gathering might even qualify for a Guinness World Record.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated projects and laid foundation stones for development works worth more than ₹14,000 crore. These included the Bharat Bovine Breeding and Research Centre at Bhildi, a facility spread over 127 acres intended to improve the indigenous Kankrej cattle breed through advanced breeding technologies.
He also laid the foundation for two Bio-CNG plants at Tharad and Radhanpur, which will use cattle dung as feedstock. Other projects covered infrastructure, agriculture, horticulture, metro connectivity and the development of child-friendly Anganwadis.
Modi released the 24th instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme, under which more than ₹18,000 crore was transferred to farmers across the country. He described farmers as the strongest pillars of the nation and highlighted government support through income assistance, minimum support prices and fertiliser supplies.
The visit also carried a political message. Modi accused opposition elements of spreading rumours about fertiliser and LPG shortages amid tensions in the Gulf region, alleging that some people sought to create panic and undermine the government. He said there were political groups that rejoiced when the country faced a crisis.
His remarks were accompanied by slogans from sections of the crowd. During a visit to the cattle research facility, women were heard chanting “Modi nahi jayenge”, while slogans of “Modi kahin nahi jayega” also rang out at the public gathering.
The Prime Minister linked the country’s development goals to the commitment to eliminate poverty, achieve self-reliance and take development to remote areas. He said serving the people was an honour and privilege.
The central message of his address, however, was unmistakable: Modi did not indicate any retirement deadline. Instead, he pledged to continue serving the people until his final moments.
