BJP leader and former Union Minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, shared remarks by former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi on completing twelve years in office — the longest continuous tenure as Prime Minister in India's post-independence history. Irani described Deve Gowda's perspective as 'an insightful read,' amplifying cross-party validation of the milestone marked under the hashtag #12YearsOfSeva.

Context

Narendra Modi was first sworn in as Prime Minister in May 2014 following the Bharatiya Janata Party's outright majority in the general election — the first single-party majority in three decades. He won re-election in 2019 and began a third consecutive term after the 2024 general election, a feat matched previously only by Jawaharlal Nehru among Indian Prime Ministers. The BJP has framed twelve uninterrupted years at the centre as a historic governance milestone, branding it under the theme of 'Seva' (service).

Irani quoted Deve Gowda as observing that Modi 'has been uncompromising in protecting national interests' — a characterisation notable for coming from a leader of a rival political tradition. H.D. Deve Gowda led a United Front coalition government from June 1996 to April 1997 and has occasionally offered assessments of subsequent administrations.

Policy Backdrop

The BJP's governance narrative since 2014 has rested on three pillars: continuity in foreign and security policy, a push for economic reform and welfare scheme delivery, and the assertion of a strong national-interest posture in bilateral and multilateral diplomacy. The 'uncompromising on national interests' framing aligns directly with that positioning, particularly on issues such as border management, trade negotiations, and India's stance in multilateral forums.

Cross-party endorsements — even partial or contextual ones — carry symbolic weight in Indian political discourse, where coalition-era veterans carry institutional credibility that transcends party lines. Deve Gowda's remarks, as shared by Irani, fit a pattern of non-BJP figures occasionally acknowledging institutional continuity or foreign-policy resolve under the current administration.

Stakeholders and Impact

For the BJP, the amplification of Deve Gowda's comments serves the party's effort to present the twelve-year milestone as a matter of national consensus rather than partisan achievement. The post is directed at a broad national electorate at a time when the party is framing its governance record ahead of upcoming state assembly elections.

Opposition parties are likely to contest the framing, arguing that longevity in office is distinct from quality of governance. The use of a former Prime Minister's voice — one associated with a secular, regional-coalition tradition — makes the endorsement harder to dismiss as purely ideological.

What's Next

Political observers will watch whether other former Prime Ministers or senior non-BJP leaders offer similar assessments as the #12YearsOfSeva campaign builds momentum. The monsoon session of Parliament is also expected to see the opposition mount a counter-narrative on governance outcomes, making the battle over the twelve-year record a defining feature of the political season ahead.