Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday surpassed Indira Gandhi to become the Indian Prime Minister with the second-longest unbroken tenure in office. Modi has now completed 4,079 consecutive days as the head of government, overtaking Indira Gandhi’s record of 4,078 days across her two terms, reported Mint.
Longest-Serving PMs in Indian History
Jawaharlal Nehru still holds the record as India’s longest-serving prime minister, with a continuous tenure of 6,130 days — from August 15, 1947, to May 27, 1964. Modi now trails only Nehru in terms of uninterrupted tenure.
Indira Gandhi served as prime minister in two terms — first from January 24, 1966, to March 24, 1977, and then again from January 14, 1980, until her assassination on October 31, 1984. While her total time in office was longer than Modi’s current tenure, it was not continuous.
Political Timeline: Modi’s Rise to the Top
Narendra Modi first took office on May 26, 2014, after leading the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to a historic win in the general elections. He began his second term on May 30, 2019, after a stronger mandate in the 2019 elections.
He is currently in his 11th year as Prime Minister and has been at the helm through two full terms. If he continues till the end of his current term in 2029, he is poised to become the longest-serving Prime Minister in Indian history, overtaking even Jawaharlal Nehru’s record.
A Political Legacy in the Making
Modi’s long and uninterrupted tenure is seen as a reflection of his strong electoral support base, centralized leadership style, and focus on image-building and policy continuity. Political analysts attribute his durability to a combination of electoral dominance, disciplined party machinery, and a personalized model of governance.
Over the years, Modi has positioned himself as a transformational leader, launching flagship schemes such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Ujjwala Yojana, Digital India, and the PM Awas Yojana. His tenure has also seen significant foreign policy shifts and the implementation of structural reforms like GST and IBC.
What Lies Ahead?
If Modi secures a third term in the upcoming 2029 general elections, and completes it without interruption, he will surpass Nehru in terms of uninterrupted days in office. With the BJP-led NDA remaining a dominant force in national politics, Modi’s long-term political future appears secure for now.
As of July 2025, his total uninterrupted tenure has crossed 11 years and 2 months, a significant political milestone in India’s post-independence democratic history.
Photo Credit: Live Mint
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