'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.
He specifically cited support extended to Bihar through recent Union Budgets, including the Makhana Board, a power plant in Bhagalpur, flood-management assistance and infrastructure projects. He also noted that PM Modi had showcased Bihar’s heritage internationally through gifts such as makhana and Madhubani paintings, and credited him with ensuring Bharat Ratna for former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur. The article further lauded the Centre’s push on infrastructure, including bridges across the Ganga, highway expansion, airport development and railway modernisation. Kumar described the transformation in railway infrastructure as “particularly commendable," highlighting railway electrification and the introduction of Vande Bharat trains. On corruption, Kumar said he had always supported a policy of zero tolerance and praised PM Modi’s reputation for integrity. “It is rare to see leaders who have spent decades in positions of power without a single stain on their integrity," he wrote, while also commending efforts to pursue corruption cases through institutional and legal mechanisms. The former Bihar Chief Minister also credited PM Modi with enhancing India’s international standing. “As an Indian, it makes me proud to see our voice being welcomed with respect in matters relating to the economy, climate change, technology, health or cooperation," he wrote. Kumar’s article coincided with PM Modi completing 4,399 consecutive days in office, surpassing Nehru’s record of 4,398 days as an elected Prime Minister. The milestone is being marked by a key NDA conclave at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, where PM Modi is scheduled to chair a meeting of Chief Ministers, Deputy Chief Ministers, and senior leaders from all 22 NDA-ruled states and Union Territories.
The meeting is expected to review flagship welfare schemes, infrastructure projects and the roadmap towards ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047. Concluding his article, Kumar described leadership as a demanding responsibility requiring “continuous effort, relentless hard work and discipline" and said PM Modi’s “tireless energy and dedication" had helped him retain public confidence over the years. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has more than 10 years of experience in national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: June 10, 2026, 10:11 IST News india 'Powerful Affirmation Of Democracy's Strength': Nitish Kumar On Modi's Historic Milestone As PM Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
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