Bhupender Yadav shares Deve Gowda's take on Modi's long tenure
Synopsis
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav amplified former PM H.D. Deve Gowda's reflections on what makes PM Modi's tenure successful, as Modi marks a milestone as India's longest-serving Prime Minister under the ruling party's #12YearsOfSeva campaign.
Key Takeaways
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav shared former PM H.D.
Deve Gowda 's reflections on PM Modi 's successful tenure on 9 June 2026 .
PM Narendra Modi is being marked as India's longest-serving Prime Minister , having been in office continuously since May 2014 — over 12 years .
Deve Gowda , a former PM from outside the BJP who led a coalition government in 1996–97 , lends cross-party weight to the milestone commentary.
The post is part of the BJP's coordinated #12YearsOfSeva campaign, with multiple ministers amplifying the milestone narrative simultaneously.
Deve Gowda's party, Janata Dal (Secular) , has had periodic alignment with the NDA at the state level, adding political context to his remarks.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Tuesday, 9 June 2026 shared a piece in which former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda reflects on the qualities that have made Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure successful, noting the occasion of Modi becoming India's longest-serving Prime Minister under the hashtag #12YearsOfSeva.
Context
Yadav's post draws attention to commentary by Deve Gowda, who served as Prime Minister from June 1996 to April 1997 at the head of the United Front coalition government. Gowda's remarks are notable precisely because he comes from outside the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, lending a degree of cross-party weight to the observation. The minister shared the piece alongside the hashtag marking 12 years of Modi's leadership at the Centre.
Modi was first sworn in as Prime Minister in May 2014 following the BJP-led NDA's decisive general election victory, and has since led the party to successive national mandates. The milestone of becoming India's longest-serving Prime Minister — surpassing earlier records — has been a focal point of BJP's current political messaging.
Policy Backdrop
The BJP has consistently highlighted the longevity and continuity of the Modi government as evidence of stable governance, contrasting it with the coalition instability of the 1990s — the very era in which Deve Gowda's own government lasted less than a year before the Congress withdrew support. Gowda's willingness to comment favourably on Modi's record carries symbolic resonance given that backdrop.
The #12YearsOfSeva (12 years of service) campaign is part of a broader party effort to document and publicise the government's tenure, with ministers across portfolios amplifying related content on social media.
Stakeholders and Impact
For BJP's support base, cross-party acknowledgement from a former Prime Minister reinforces the narrative of broad-based recognition of Modi's governance record. For the Opposition, such messaging presents a challenge in countering a milestone that carries both symbolic and electoral weight ahead of future electoral cycles.
Deve Gowda, now in his 90s and a patriarch of the Janata Dal (Secular), has had a complex relationship with the BJP — his party has at times aligned with the NDA at the state level in Karnataka. His commentary therefore sits within a nuanced political context rather than representing a straightforward endorsement.
What's Next
Observers will watch whether other former prime ministers or senior opposition figures respond to the milestone or the cross-party commentary it has attracted. Official government events or commemorative programmes marking the extended tenure milestone could follow in the coming days. The BJP's sustained amplification of the #12YearsOfSeva narrative signals that the party intends to keep the milestone prominent in public discourse well beyond the anniversary date.
Point of View
The ruling party lends cross-party credibility to its milestone narrative rather than relying solely on internal voices. Deve Gowda's complex alignment history with the NDA makes him a strategically useful voice for such commentary. The #12YearsOfSeva campaign reflects the BJP's broader electoral strategy of framing continuity and longevity as governance virtues ahead of future polls. Ministers amplifying the same content in unison signals a coordinated communications effort, not an organic moment.
NationPress
26 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Narendra Modi being called India's longest-serving Prime Minister?
As of June 2026, Narendra Modi has served continuously as Prime Minister since May 2014 — over 12 years — surpassing the tenures of earlier prime ministers to become the longest-serving holder of the office in India's history.
What did H.D. Deve Gowda say about PM Modi?
Deve Gowda reflected on the qualities that have made Modi's tenure successful, with his remarks described as highlighting Modi's reflective nature as a key factor, according to the piece shared by Minister Bhupender Yadav.
Who is H.D. Deve Gowda and why does his opinion matter?
H.D. Deve Gowda is a former Prime Minister of India who led the United Front coalition government from June 1996 to April 1997. As a leader from outside the BJP, his positive commentary on Modi carries cross-party significance.
What is the #12YearsOfSeva hashtag about?
#12YearsOfSeva, meaning '12 years of service,' is a BJP campaign hashtag marking 12 years of the Modi government at the Centre, used widely by party leaders and ministers on social media in June 2026.
What is Bhupender Yadav's role in the Modi government?
Bhupender Yadav is the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and a senior BJP leader. He is one of several ministers amplifying the party's #12YearsOfSeva milestone messaging.
