New Delhi, June 10 (IANS) As Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday became the longest-serving elected Prime Minister in India’s history, several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and ministers across the country marked the occasion by visiting temples, participating in religious ceremonies, and offering prayers for his continued success, good health, and long life.

Several senior BJP leaders gathered at places of worship in different states to celebrate the milestone, describing it as a significant moment in the country’s political journey and lauding Modi’s leadership, commitment to public service, and vision for national development.

PM Modi on Wednesday became India’s longest-serving Prime Minister, marking 12 years at the helm of the Central government.

Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan visited the Hanuman Temple in Delhi, where he offered prayers and conveyed his best wishes to the Prime Minister on achieving the landmark feat. He prayed for PM Modi’s continued success and leadership in steering the nation forward.

Speaking to the reporters, Chouhan said, “As the elected Prime Minister, Narendra Modi is the longest-serving Prime Minister, and his tenure is continuing. These 12 years have also been extraordinary and unprecedented for development. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not taken even a single moment of rest during these 12 years.”

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also offered prayers at the Jagannath Temple in Delhi to mark Prime Minister Modi’s completion of 12 years in public service at the national level. He joined devotees in seeking blessings for the country’s continued progress under PM Modi’s leadership.

He also organised a ‘bhandara’ to mark the occasion.

Speaking to the reporters, Pradhan said, “PM Modi has dedicated himself to serving the nation for 12 continuous years, working day and night tirelessly. This day holds special significance as he has completed 4,399 days in office, marking the longest tenure as Prime Minister in India’s history, devoted to serving the people.”

BJP National President Nitin Nabin, along with BJP Delhi president Harsh Malhotra and MP Bansuri Swaraj, visited the Jhandewalan temple and participated in a kirtan to mark the historic milestone.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the Pinjrapole Gaushala, where she took part in rituals conducted at the temple located within the premises. During her visit, she toured the gaushala and participated in traditional worship by offering fodder to cows.

Delhi Minister Pravesh Verma reached the Hanuman Temple at Connaught Place and joined devotees in a kirtan organised to commemorate the occasion.

In Rohini, a special puja, prayer ceremony, and Maha Aarti were organised at the ISKCON Temple to celebrate Prime Minister Modi becoming the country’s longest-serving elected Prime Minister. Delhi Minister Ravinder Indraj Singh, BJP workers, and a large number of devotees participated in the event, offering prayers for PMModi’s health, longevity, and the prosperity of the nation.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and BJP leader Virendra Sachdeva visited the Siddhivinayak Temple in Delhi’s Mayur Vihar and offered prayers to mark the milestone.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma visited the Moti Dungri Ganesh Temple and offered special prayers for Prime Minister Modi, wishing him continued success and progress in leading the country.

BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari performed special prayers at the Sankatmochan Hanuman Temple in Delhi’s Kalkaji area. Accompanied by priests, he sought blessings for the Prime Minister’s long life and for the fulfilment of the vision of a Viksit Bharat.

Speaking to IANS, Bhandari said, “Today is a historic day. Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has become India’s longest-serving elected Prime Minister. Continuing to take the country forward under the mission of Viksit Bharat 2047 and serving the poor, I prayed for his long life and blessings from Lord Hanuman. For this, I performed prayers at the Sankat Mochan Hanuman Temple in Kalkaji, South Delhi, along with priests.”

Highlighting the achievements of the Modi government, Bhandari said, “There was a time when India was known as a fragile economy, but now India has become one of the top four economies in the world. Today, 20 crore people have come out of poverty. The grand temple of Lord Shri Ram has been built in Ayodhya. Today, every Indian feels proud of being Indian. Free healthcare under Ayushman Bharat has reached more than 30 crore families. Clean drinking water has reached more than 10 crore households.”

In Mumbai, BJP Mumbai President Ameet Satam offered special prayers at the Siddhivinayak Temple to commemorate the occasion and prayed for Prime Minister Modi’s continued leadership and the country’s progress.

PM Modi crossed former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s record with 4,399 days in office as an elected Prime Minister.

Nehru’s tenure from 1952 onwards is considered for this comparison, as he headed an interim government between 1947 and 1952 before the country’s first general elections were held.

While former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi served for more than 14 years in office, her tenure was not continuous, making Modi the longest continuously serving elected Prime Minister in the country’s history. He has served from his first swearing-in ceremony in 2014 to securing successive mandates in 2019 and a historic third consecutive term in 2024.

–IANS

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