PM Modi Hails NDA’s 12-Year Journey, Calls Liberation from Congress Rule Government’s Biggest Achievement

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday used a major gathering of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders to present what he described as the defining achievement of his government’s 12-year tenure — what he called India’s “liberation” from decades of Congress-led governance.

Addressing NDA partners at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, Modi said the country had undergone a fundamental shift in confidence, ambition and governance since the BJP-led coalition came to power. His remarks came shortly after alliance leaders passed a resolution congratulating him on becoming India’s longest-serving elected prime minister, surpassing the tenure of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

The meeting brought together 72 NDA leaders, including chief ministers from BJP-ruled and alliance-ruled states, turning the event into both a political celebration and a platform for outlining the coalition’s vision for the years ahead.

Speaking to allies, Modi argued that one of the biggest transformations under the NDA had been the dismantling of what he described as a mindset of helplessness and low expectations that had taken root during decades of Congress rule.

“A major success of NDA’s 12 years is that the country has been liberated from the grip of the Congress,” Modi said, asserting that previous governments had conditioned people to accept slow development as inevitable. He criticized the historical description of India’s sluggish economic expansion as the “Hindu rate of growth,” arguing that governance failures rather than cultural factors were responsible for the country’s economic limitations.

The Prime Minister’s comments reflected a familiar political contrast that has become central to the BJP’s narrative. Since coming to power in 2014, Modi and his party have consistently portrayed their administration as a break from what they characterize as policy paralysis, indecisive governance and bureaucratic inertia under previous governments.

During his address, Modi highlighted several decisions that his government considers transformative milestones. Among them were the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, military operations targeting Pakistan-based terror networks, efforts to curb Left-wing extremism, and a series of governance reforms aimed at simplifying citizens’ interactions with government institutions.

The Prime Minister argued that these measures demonstrated a willingness to take politically difficult decisions in what he described as the national interest. According to him, the current administration has shown a readiness to pursue structural changes that earlier governments either avoided or delayed.

The speech also carried a strong economic message. Modi pointed to the rise of India’s expanding middle class and what he termed the “neo-middle class” as the driving force behind the country’s next phase of growth. He suggested that these groups would play a critical role in shaping an increasingly aspirational India, fueled by entrepreneurship, digital adoption and rising consumer confidence.

At a time when global economies continue to navigate geopolitical tensions, inflationary pressures and supply-chain disruptions, Modi credited India’s relative stability to the electorate’s preference for political continuity. He argued that stable governance had enabled India to pursue long-term development goals even as many nations struggled with uncertainty.

The Prime Minister repeatedly returned to the theme of public participation, saying that many of the government’s achievements were possible because citizens responded positively to national campaigns and reforms. He cited initiatives such as the Swachh Bharat mission, the collective response during the Covid-19 pandemic and the rapid growth of digital transactions as examples of public cooperation driving national change.

In a notable appeal that extended beyond party politics, Modi called for a shift in how political competition is defined in India. Rather than focusing solely on electoral battles, he said states and governments should compete on governance outcomes, development indicators and service delivery.

“Competition for development must become a national culture,” he said, framing governance performance as the benchmark by which political success should be measured.

The timing of the address is politically significant. With the NDA seeking to consolidate its position after more than a decade in power, the government has increasingly emphasized its record on infrastructure, welfare delivery, national security and economic modernization. The anniversary milestone offers the coalition an opportunity to showcase achievements while setting the stage for its future agenda.

Modi signaled that the reform process is far from complete. He indicated that the coming years would see an acceleration of policy initiatives and structural reforms, suggesting that the government intends to maintain its focus on long-term economic transformation.

Looking ahead, the Prime Minister projected an ambitious vision for the country’s future. He said India was positioned to emerge as a global leader in green growth, innovation and advanced technologies during the next decade. The statement aligns with the government’s broader push to expand manufacturing, strengthen digital infrastructure, invest in clean energy and position India as a major player in emerging industries.

For supporters of the NDA, the event served as a celebration of political longevity and governance continuity. For critics, Modi’s sharp attack on Congress underscored the enduring political rivalry that continues to shape national discourse. Yet beyond the partisan exchanges, the speech offered a clear glimpse into how the Prime Minister wants the last 12 years to be remembered — as a period that, in his view, fundamentally altered India’s trajectory and reshaped its ambitions on the global stage.

As the NDA enters its second decade in power, the challenge for the government will be translating those ambitions into measurable outcomes. The promise of faster reforms, stronger economic growth and global leadership now forms the centerpiece of the coalition’s narrative as it seeks to define the next chapter of India’s development story.