Narendra Modi sets record as the longest-serving non-Congress Indian Prime Minister

Thursday, August 13, 2020, turned out to be a landmark day in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's career. On Thursday Narendra Modi, of Bhartiya Janata Party, became the longest-serving PM of non-Congress origin. Narendra Modi, 67, has quelled Atal Bihari Bajpayee's 2,268 days in his terms combined as the PM of India. Bajpayee, also from Bharatiya Janata Party served as the PM from 13th October 1999 to 22nd May 2004. 

India's first prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru who served India for 16 years and 286 days, from 15th August 1947 to 27th May 1964 remains the longest-serving Indian PM. Indira Gandhi, his daughter retains the second position. Her term lasted for 11 years and 59 days from 14th January 1966 to 24th March 1977. She was again elected as the PM in 1980 and she served till her assassination on 31st October 1984. Manmohan Singh, PM Modi's predecessor, stayed in the office for 10 years four days, the third-longest serving. 

Manmohan Singh was in office from 22nd May 2004 to 26th May 2014. Succeeding Manmohan Singh, Modi was sworn as the 15th prime minister of India on 26th May 2014.

On Thursday PM Modi marked the completion of six years in office. On 5th August, Modi became the first PM visiting the Ram Janmabhoomi and Hanuman Garhi. In the wake of the COVID-19, Modi's address to the nation on March 24, where he declared the 21-day complete lockdown or lockdown 1.0, recorded the most-watched event in the history of Indian TV.

Even Narendra Modi's official Twitter account that noted 50 million followers in September 2019, became the most followed Indian on the microblogging site. As of August 13, the official Twitter handle of the Prime Minister's office has 37.9 million followers while Narendra Modi's official account has 60.9 followers.