Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday became the longest-serving head of an elected government in India, surpassing former Sikkim chief minister Pawan Kumar Chamling in cumulative tenure, as critics continue to link his record to his tenure during the 2002 Gujarat Muslim genocide, in which over 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed, alleging state complicity and failure to prevent the violence.
With a total of 8,931 days in executive office, combining his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister and Prime Minister, Modi has entered his 25th year in public office.
He assumed office as Chief Minister of Gujarat on October 7, 2001, serving until May 21, 2014, before taking oath as Prime Minister on May 26, 2014. Since then, he has led the NDA government through three consecutive Lok Sabha mandates in 2014, 2019, and 2024.
Modi is the longest-serving Chief Minister of Gujarat and the Prime Minister with the longest prior experience as a state chief minister. He is also the first Indian Prime Minister born after Independence.
The milestone has been highlighted by supporters as a reflection of sustained electoral backing and continuity in leadership. Modi’s third consecutive term at the Centre places him among a small group of leaders with repeated national mandates.
He has also maintained a significant global and digital presence, becoming the first serving world leader to cross 100 million followers on Instagram earlier this year.
At the same time, the milestone tenure has been marked by longstanding controversies surrounding his political career.
These include debates over the handling of the 2002 Gujarat genocide of Muslims, as well as allegations by critics regarding policies and rhetoric seen as affecting minority communities, specifically Muslims, the largest religious minority community in India.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has faced longstanding criticism from opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, and sections of analysts over alleged proximity to industrialists such as Gautam Adani and Ambani brothers.
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