Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim hails Modi's record 12-year tenure as India's longest-serving elected PM
Synopsis
Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim has hailed Narendra Modi's 12-year unbroken tenure as a testament to dedicated public service — the moment Modi crossed Nehru's 4,399-day elected-PM record. With a third consecutive mandate secured in 2024, no elected Indian Prime Minister has governed longer without interruption.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi became India's longest-serving elected Prime Minister on 10 June , crossing 4,399 days in office.
Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim congratulated Modi via a post on X , calling it a testament to ‘dedicated public service.’ Modi's record is specifically for continuous elected tenure; Indira Gandhi served longer in total but not continuously.
Jawaharlal Nehru's benchmark is counted from 1952 , after India's first general elections, not from the 1947 interim period.
Modi has served three consecutive terms: 2014 , 2019 , and 2024 .
His tenure has seen major projects including Vande Bharat trains, INS Vikrant , the new Parliament building , and the Kashmir rail link .
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Wednesday, 10 June congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on crossing a historic milestone — becoming India's longest-serving elected Prime Minister with 12 continuous years in office. Ibrahim called the achievement a testament to Modi's “years of dedicated public service.”
Ibrahim's Congratulatory Message
In a post on X, the Malaysian Prime Minister wrote: “Hearty congratulations to PM Modi on this historic milestone of becoming India's longest-serving elected Prime Minister. This achievement stands as a testament to his years of dedicated public service and leadership in advancing India's development, prosperity and standing on the global stage.”
Ibrahim also underscored the depth of bilateral ties, saying, “Malaysia values its close and longstanding friendship with India, and I look forward to continuing our cooperation in strengthening bilateral ties and expanding opportunities for our peoples.” He added that he wished Modi “continued success and the people of India continued peace, progress and prosperity.”
The Record Modi Has Broken
Modi surpassed former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's benchmark of 4,399 days as an elected Prime Minister on Wednesday. Nehru's tenure is counted from 1952 — when India held its first general elections — rather than from his earlier role heading an interim government between 1947 and 1952.
Notably, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi served for more than 14 years in total, but her tenure was non-continuous. Modi's record is therefore specifically as India's longest continuously serving elected Prime Minister, having been sworn in first in 2014 and returned to power in successive mandates in 2019 and again in 2024 — a historic third consecutive term.
Key Infrastructure Milestones Under Modi's Tenure
The past 12 years of the Modi-led government have been marked by a series of large-scale infrastructure and nation-building initiatives. These include the new Parliament building, the Central Vista redevelopment, Kartavya Path, Vande Bharat trains, the Statue of Unity, aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, the Kashmir rail link, Noida International Airport, Namo Bharat RRTS, and the Ganga Expressway.
India-Malaysia Ties in Focus
Ibrahim's warm message reflects the broader trajectory of India-Malaysia bilateral relations, which have seen growing cooperation in trade, defence, and people-to-people links. This comes amid India's expanding diplomatic footprint in Southeast Asia under Modi's Act East Policy. As global leaders take note of this milestone, the congratulatory message from Kuala Lumpur signals that Modi's record tenure carries weight well beyond India's borders.
Point of View
And a warm public endorsement from Kuala Lumpur signals a deliberate repositioning. The record itself, however, invites scrutiny: longevity in office is not synonymous with governance quality, and Modi's critics would argue that 12 years have also produced democratic backsliding concerns flagged by international watchdogs. The Nehru comparison is also selective — counting only post-1952 elected tenure excludes the foundational years of the republic. The milestone is real; the framing around it is contested.
NationPress
27 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did PM Modi become India's longest-serving elected Prime Minister?
PM Modi crossed former PM Jawaharlal Nehru's record of 4,399 days as an elected Prime Minister on 10 June. Nehru's tenure is counted from 1952, when India held its first general elections. Modi has served continuously since 2014 across three successive mandates.
Why is Indira Gandhi not counted as the longest-serving PM?
Indira Gandhi served more than 14 years in total, but her tenure was non-continuous. Modi holds the record specifically for the longest unbroken, continuously serving elected Prime Ministership in India's history.
What did Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim say about Modi's milestone?
Ibrahim posted on X calling the achievement 'a testament to his years of dedicated public service and leadership in advancing India's development, prosperity and standing on the global stage.' He also reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with India.
What are some major projects completed under Modi's 12-year tenure?
Key infrastructure milestones include the new Parliament building, Central Vista redevelopment, Kartavya Path, Vande Bharat trains, the Statue of Unity, INS Vikrant, the Kashmir rail link, Noida International Airport, Namo Bharat RRTS, and the Ganga Expressway.
Why is Nehru's tenure counted from 1952 and not 1947?
Nehru headed an interim government between 1947 and 1952, before India's first general elections were held. For the purpose of this record, only his tenure as an elected Prime Minister from 1952 onwards is considered.
