'Powerful Affirmation Of Democracy's Strength': Nitish Kumar On Modi's Historic Milestone As PM
'Powerful Affirmation Of Democracy's Strength': Nitish Kumar On Modi's Historic Milestone As PM Published By, Last Updated: June 10, 2026, 10:11 IST Nitish Kumar congratulated
'Powerful Affirmation Of Democracy's Strength': Nitish Kumar On Modi's Historic Milestone As PM Published By, Last Updated: June 10, 2026, 10:11 IST Nitish Kumar congratulated PM Modi on his record tenure, praising his governance, welfare delivery, anti-corruption stance and role in elevating India's global standing. File photos of PM Modi/Nitish Kumar (PTI) As Prime Minister Narendra Modi became India’s longest-serving elected Prime Minister on Wednesday, former Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar hailed the milestone as a reflection of the resilience of Indian democracy, saying PM Modi’s rise from humble beginnings to the country’s highest elected office had reinforced faith in democratic institutions and opportunities. In an opinion article published in The Indian Express, Kumar wrote that PM Modi’s achievement was “a powerful affirmation of the strength and openness of Indian democracy," while congratulating the Prime Minister on surpassing the record previously held by Jawaharlal Nehru. “By becoming India’s longest continuously serving elected prime minister, he has set a new benchmark in democratic politics," Kumar wrote. The former Bihar Chief Minister said both he and PM Modi belonged to a generation whose political consciousness was shaped by the Emergency and the movement that followed to restore democratic freedoms. “We witnessed first-hand the assault on democratic freedoms and participated in the movement that sought to restore them. That struggle was not merely a political event but a formative experience that shaped our understanding of public life and democratic values," he wrote. Placing his key argument at the centre of the piece, Kumar said PM Modi’s political journey had challenged the notion that the country’s top offices were reserved for those born into influential political families.
“Rising from humble beginnings to occupy the highest elected office, he has become a source of inspiration for millions of young Indians, especially those from modest backgrounds," Kumar wrote. “His story reinforces the belief that in a vibrant democracy, determination, hard work, and ability can overcome barriers of birth and circumstance." The JD(U) leader also praised the Modi government’s welfare initiatives, saying poverty alleviation and ensuring dignity for citizens should remain the foremost objective of politics. According to Kumar, the NDA government’s focus on welfare delivery had helped bring “25 crore people out of poverty" while expanding access to toilets, bank accounts, housing, LPG connections, tap water and health insurance. He said beneficiaries from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, backward classes, extremely backward classes, women and poor households had increasingly become active participants in the country’s development journey. Kumar further highlighted the government’s focus on women’s welfare, saying several schemes had directly reduced hardships faced by women. Referring to Bihar’s Jeevika programme, he wrote, “It has been my experience in Bihar that when women are at the centre of development efforts, society progresses faster." The former Chief Minister also credited PM Modi’s governance model for emphasising implementation and delivery. “A defining feature of PM Modi’s leadership has been his emphasis on ensuring that governance translates into tangible outcomes for citizens," he wrote, adding that technology, direct benefit transfers and monitoring mechanisms had helped reduce the gap between policymaking and implementation. Praising PM Modi’s approach to federalism, Kumar said the Prime Minister’s experience as Gujarat Chief Minister and later as Prime Minister had given him a deep understanding of the needs of states.
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