Prime Minister Narendra Modi created a historic milestone on Wednesday by becoming India’s longest continuously serving elected Prime Minister. Marking the occasion, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha congratulated Modi and drew a comparison with India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, highlighting the different political environments in which both leaders governed.
With 4,399 consecutive days in office as of June 10, Modi surpassed Nehru’s record of 4,398 days as an elected Prime Minister. Chadha praised the achievement, emphasizing that Modi secured three consecutive mandates from the people in a highly competitive political landscape.
Sharing his views on social media platform X, Chadha described Modi’s electoral victories in 2014, 2019, and 2024 as a reflection of the trust repeatedly placed in him by the Indian electorate. He said each mandate represented a renewed vote of confidence from citizens across the country.
Comparing the political circumstances of both leaders, Chadha noted that Nehru governed during the early years of independent India, a period when the Congress party enjoyed overwhelming dominance and faced limited opposition. According to him, the political environment of that era was significantly different from today’s multi-party democracy.
He pointed out that modern Indian politics is shaped by coalition dynamics, influential regional parties, and intense electoral competition. In such a scenario, Chadha argued, winning and retaining public trust across three consecutive general elections is an extraordinary accomplishment.
The BJP leader further highlighted that Modi led the Bharatiya Janata Party to absolute majorities in both 2014 and 2019, marking the first time since 1984 that a single party secured a majority in the Lok Sabha. He also led the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to another victory in the 2024 general elections.
“To earn the trust of a diverse and politically vibrant nation once is remarkable, but to do so repeatedly over three consecutive terms is exceptional,” Chadha said while praising the Prime Minister’s leadership.
Modi first took office on May 26, 2014, and has remained at the helm of the country ever since. Congratulating him on the historic achievement, Chadha wished the Prime Minister good health and a long life dedicated to public service.
Nehru’s Historic Tenure
Jawaharlal Nehru served as India’s Prime Minister from August 15, 1947, until his death on May 27, 1964. His tenure spanned nearly 17 years and began during one of the most challenging periods in India’s history.
Nehru led the nation through the aftermath of Partition, widespread communal tensions, refugee rehabilitation, economic challenges, and the integration of numerous princely states into the Indian Union. He later secured victory in India’s first general election in 1951-52 and continued as Prime Minister until 1964.
India’s first woman Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, also served for nearly 16 years, though her tenure was divided across two separate terms.
Chadha’s Political Shift
Chadha’s remarks come shortly after his departure from the Aam Aadmi Party. In April, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party along with six other lawmakers, reducing AAP’s strength in the Rajya Sabha.
Explaining his decision, Chadha cited concerns over corruption and what he described as a toxic internal culture within the party. Meanwhile, AAP challenged the defections before the Rajya Sabha Chairman, leading to an ongoing political dispute.
