New Delhi/Washington: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday became India’s longest-serving elected prime minister, completing 4,399 consecutive days in office and surpassing the previous record held by India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. The milestone drew congratulations from US lawmakers, business leaders and members of the Indian diaspora, who praised Modi’s leadership and India’s growing global stature under his tenure.
Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas, co-chair of the Senate India Caucus, congratulated Modi on social media, describing the achievement as a reflection of the trust placed in him by 1.4 billion Indians across three consecutive democratic mandates.
Cornyn said Modi’s tenure had been transformative, citing India’s economic growth and poverty reduction efforts. He also highlighted the strengthening of ties between New Delhi and Washington, stating that the US-India partnership had reached unprecedented levels during Modi’s leadership.
Another senior Republican lawmaker, Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, also extended his congratulations, saying that under Modi’s leadership the relationship between the United States and India had evolved into a comprehensive, global and strategic partnership.
American singer and India supporter Mary Millben described Modi as a friend and praised his diplomatic approach throughout his years in office. She noted that Modi had worked with multiple US administrations while consistently prioritising India’s interests and maintaining strong bilateral relations.
Nikesh Arora, Chief Executive Officer of cybersecurity giant Palo Alto Networks, also congratulated the Prime Minister, saying the achievement reflected the confidence and trust reposed in him by the Indian electorate through three successive electoral victories.
The milestone is significant because Modi has now completed 4,399 uninterrupted days as an elected prime minister. Jawaharlal Nehru, who led India after independence and won the country’s first general election in 1952, served continuously as elected prime minister from May 13, 1952, until his death on May 27, 1964, a period of 4,398 days.
While Nehru also headed India’s government from 1947 to 1952, that period preceded the country’s first general elections and is generally classified as service as head of the interim government before the establishment of India’s elected parliamentary system.
Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi remains one of the country’s longest-serving leaders, having served for about 14 years between 1966 and 1984. However, her tenure was interrupted after she lost the 1977 general election following the Emergency, making her period in office non-consecutive.
Modi first assumed office as Prime Minister on May 26, 2014, after leading the Bharatiya Janata Party to victory in the general election. He secured successive mandates in 2019 and 2024, becoming the first non-Congress leader to complete two full terms and win a third consecutive term as Prime Minister.
The achievement marks another milestone in India’s democratic history and underscores Modi’s continued political dominance more than a decade after first taking office.
