Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday became India’s longest-serving elected Prime Minister, completing 4,399 consecutive days in office and surpassing the record held by India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. The milestone was marked by a flood of congratulatory messages from National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders, ministers, party functionaries and supporters in India and abroad.
PM Modi crossed the 4,399-day mark on June 10, overtaking Nehru’s elected tenure of 4,398 consecutive days after the country’s first general election. Nehru’s tenure from 1952 onwards is considered for the comparison, as he headed an interim government between 1947 and 1952 before India’s first general elections.
While former prime minister Indira Gandhi served for more than 14 years in office, her tenure was not continuous, making Narendra Modi the longest continuously serving elected Prime Minister in the country’s history. He has remained in office from his first swearing-in in 2014, securing successive mandates in 2019 and a third consecutive term in 2024.
NDA leaders hail Modi’s political milestone
Vice President CP Radhakrishnan described the achievement as a reflection of a “transformative era” in India’s development journey. In a message posted on X, he credited Modi’s leadership with driving economic growth, infrastructure expansion, social empowerment and technological advancement.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman called it a historic milestone and said the Prime Minister’s Office had provided decisive leadership through several challenging periods over the past 12 years. She said the government’s commitment to Antyodaya and the principle of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas” had ensured that development reached citizens across the country.
Union ministers Piyush Goyal, CR Patil and Arjun Ram Meghwal were among those who praised the Prime Minister’s tenure, highlighting reforms, welfare initiatives, economic growth and India’s increasing global profile.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also congratulated the Prime Minister, describing the achievement as a reflection of the enduring trust reposed in his leadership. In a post on X, Jaishankar said Modi’s 4,399 days in office reflected the confidence people placed in his vision and commitment to national development.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh termed the achievement a testament to the trust reposed in Modi’s leadership by the people of India. In a post on X, Singh described the Prime Minister as a “tireless Karmayogi” guided by the principle of “Nation First” and said his tenure reflected unwavering dedication to India’s development, welfare and global standing.
BJP leaders across states also joined the celebrations. Former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa termed the day a historic moment in India’s democratic journey and credited Modi’s leadership with driving economic transformation, welfare expansion and key policy decisions over the last decade.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath termed the milestone a celebration of Modi’s “austerity, sacrifice and foresight”. In a post on X, he described the Prime Minister as a leader dedicated to the service, security and prosperity of the nation and said his leadership embodied the aspirations of “Amrit Kaal” and a developed India.
In Chennai, BJP Tamil Nadu State Secretary Vinoj P Selvam described the Prime Minister’s tenure as a landmark chapter in India’s development story, citing growth in defence exports, digital payments and internet connectivity.
Landmark projects mark 12 years of Modi government
The Modi government’s tenure has also been marked by a series of major infrastructure and nation-building projects, including the new Parliament building, the Central Vista redevelopment project, Kartavya Path, the Statue of Unity, Vande Bharat trains, Namo Bharat RRTS, the Kashmir rail link, INS Vikrant, Noida International Airport, and the Ganga Expressway.
BJP puts up banners as celebrations spread across the country
The BJP installed congratulatory banners across parts of the national capital as messages poured in from NDA leaders and party workers.
The occasion also drew attention on social media, where leaders highlighted PM Modi’s three successive electoral mandates in 2014, 2019 and 2024.
NDA conclave to mark milestone and 12 years in office
The National Democratic Alliance is scheduled to hold a key meeting at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi later on Wednesday to mark 12 years of the NDA government at the Centre and celebrate the Prime Minister’s record-breaking tenure.
Prime Minister Modi, senior BJP leaders, chief ministers and deputy chief ministers from NDA-ruled states and Union Territories, along with leaders of alliance partners, are expected to attend the conclave. According to sources, the alliance is likely to adopt a resolution congratulating the Prime Minister on surpassing Nehru’s record.
Senior Union ministers including Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, JP Nadda and Shivraj Singh Chouhan are expected to be present at the meeting.
Party leaders are also expected to review flagship schemes, infrastructure projects and governance initiatives. According to sources, discussions will include a stocktake of the Viksit Bharat 2047 roadmap, measures to strengthen last-mile delivery of welfare schemes, future policy priorities and preparations for upcoming elections. The leadership is also expected to deliberate on the evolving security situation in West Asia and its implications for India.
Praise for PM Modi’s tenure from US and beyond
The milestone also drew reactions from the United States, where lawmakers, business leaders and members of the Indian diaspora praised Modi’s leadership and India’s growing international profile.
US Senator John Cornyn congratulated the Prime Minister on completing 4,399 days in office and said the India-US partnership had never been stronger.
Arun Agarwal, Co-founder of the Indian American CEO Council, said India today commands greater attention globally than it did a decade ago and is increasingly seen as a country delivering on its promise.
Nikesh Arora, Chairman and CEO of Palo Alto Networks, and singer Mary Millben also congratulated the Prime Minister, describing the occasion as a historic democratic milestone and praising his role in strengthening India-US ties.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor congratulated Modi on becoming India’s longest-serving elected Prime Minister, describing the achievement as a testament to decades of dedicated public service and leadership.
Among the international leaders who congratulated Modi was Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who said the achievement reflected years of dedicated public service and leadership.