Modi becomes India's second-longest serving PM in uninterrupted tenure, surpasses Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi, who held office from January 24, 1966, to March 24, 1977, had served 4,077 days in her first uninterrupted term. Modi, 74, assumed office on May 26, 2014, and was sworn in for a historic third consecutive term in June 2024 after the Lok Sabha elections. With this milestone, he trails only Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister, who served for 16 years and 286 days from August 15, 1947, to May 27, 1964.
Modi is now the first and only non-Congress prime minister to complete two full terms and secure a third successive mandate. He also holds the distinction of being the first PM born in independent India and remains the longest-serving prime minister from a non-Congress party.
Before becoming Prime Minister, Modi served as the chief minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014 — the longest tenure for a CM in the state's history. His national political journey began with the BJP's landslide victory in the 2014 general elections, where the party secured 272 Lok Sabha seats on its own. Under his leadership, the BJP improved its tally to 303 in 2019. Although it fell short of an outright majority in the 2024 elections, the BJP emerged as the single largest party and formed the government with the support of its NDA allies.
Modi is also the only non-Congress leader to have led a party to a single-party majority in the Lok Sabha — a feat he achieved twice, in 2014 and 2019.
Indira Gandhi returned to power for a second term from January 14, 1980 until her assassination on October 31, 1984. However, her unbroken tenure during her first term had remained second only to Nehru — until Modi's latest record.
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Business Standard
12 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Congress, Chidambaram speaking Pakistan's language: Shivraj Chouhan
Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday accused the Congress and its leader P Chidambaram of "speaking the same language" as used by Pakistan and claimed that the Opposition was "running away" from a discussion in Parliament on Operation Sindoor out of fear of being unmasked. Speaking to reporters inside the Parliament complex, he said when the government is ready to discuss the issue then why is the Opposition running away from it. The Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm on Monday amid opposition protests on the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar, delaying the start of the discussion on Operation Sindoor. A political row erupted on Monday over Chidambaram's reported remarks that the terrorists behind the Pahalgam could have been "homegrown". "It was their demand only that a discussion should be held on Operation Sindoor. And, when the government is ready for discussion, why is it running away from it? The entire Opposition is not letting a discussion on terror and terrorism. Is there a fear of being unmasked?" Chouhan said. Reacting to former home minister Chidambaram's reported remarks related to the Pahalgam terror attack in a video interview, Chouhan said, "Why is P Chidambaram saying this?" "The language in which Pakistan is speaking, the same language is being used by Chidambaram and Congress... The mask has been removed from the Opposition's face," he said, wondering if the Congress leader was asking for proof about Pakistan's hand in the attack. Chidambaram, in an interview with The Quint, said, "...for all we know they could be homegrown terrorists, why do we assume they came from Pakistan?". He, however, later said that his remarks had been taken out of context. "Trolls are of different kinds and use different tools to spread misinformation. The worst kind is a troll who suppresses the full recorded interview, takes two sentences, mutes some words, and paints the speaker in a black colour!" he wrote on X. Earlier in the day, BJP leader and former Union minister Anurag Thakur accused the Congress of casting doubts on the achievements of the Indian Army during Operation Sindoor. Speaking to PTI Videos inside the Parliament complex, he alleged, "When it comes to terrorist attacks, Pakistan is unable to defend itself, but Rahul-occupied Congress leaders are quick to take its side." Thakur said this was not the first time that Congress leaders have demanded evidence from the Indian Army while attempting to "absolve Pakistan in advance". "The country will not give dossiers anymore, it will give doses. We will not give proof, we will give coffins to terrorists," the Hamirpur MP said. Thakur said those who once promoted an anti-India narrative could not face the Indian Army during the operation, in a reference to Pakistan. "This mindset of placing doubt on our soldiers while shielding Pakistan shows the Congress' low thinking and anti-national attitude," he alleged. BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj said Chidambaram's comments were "deeply shameful", especially given his stature as a former home minister. Speaking to PTI Videos, she pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had declared the start of the Monsoon Session a celebration of Operation Sindoor's success. "And yet, someone like P Chidambaram gives such a should be ashamed," she said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India Today
12 minutes ago
- India Today
Kerala Congress leader predicts CPM win in local body poll in leaked audio, resigns
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Mint
12 minutes ago
- Mint
‘Our actions neither provocative nor expansionist': Rajnath Singh on Op Sindoor in Lok Sabha - 'we halted because…'
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the Lok Sabha during the special discussion on 'Operation Sindoor', India's military response to the Pahalgam terror attack on Monday. 'Soon after Pahalgam attack, our Armed Forces took action and hit with precision the nine terrorist infra sites in which more than 100 terorrists, their trainers and handlers were targeted,' Singh said, opening the debate on Operation Sindoor in Lok Sabha. While leading the discussion on Operation Sindoor in the Lok Sabha, Singh lauded the armed forces. He bowed to the armed forces, protecting the nation and was willing to dedicate their life to the nation before starting his remarks. 'The well-coordinated strikes carried out by our Armed Forces hit 9 terrorist infrastructure targets with precision. In this military operation, it is estimated that over a hundred terrorists, their trainers, handlers, and associates were killed. Most of these were linked to terrorist organisations such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen,' Singh said Twenty-six civilians were killed in the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, after which India retaliated through precision strikes under Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir(PoK). Singh said that India's actions were 'neither provocative nor expansionist' and India halted the military action after four days only 'after achieving the objectives' of Operation Sindoor. "I am proud to say that our Air Defence system, Counter-Drone system, and electronic equipment completely foiled this attack by Pakistan. Pakistan could not hit any of our targets, and none of our important assets were damaged. Our security arrangements were impregnable, and every attack was thwarted," Singh said. Even since the monsoon session began on July 21, the Parliament has witnessed constant adjournments amid uproar over the opposition's demand for a debate on issues of public importance, including the ghastly Pahalgam terror attack and the ongoing SIR exercise being carried out by the Election Commission in Bihar ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. The opposition has also demanded that PM Modi respond to the repeated claims made by US President Donald Trump of initiating a "ceasefire" between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor. The first week of the Monsoon session of Parliament was marked by major disruptions, including Jagdeep Dhankhar's surprise resignation as Vice President. The well-coordinated strikes carried out by our Armed Forces hit 9 terrorist infrastructure targets with precision. The Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)—led ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and opposition parties will field their top leaders during the discussions in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Deputy Leader in the House, Gaurav Gogoi,is expected to lead the opposition party's charge on the first day of the debate.
