NEW DELHI,9 June (H.S.): On the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi completing 4,399 consecutive days in office, former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, through their respective articles, highlighted his leadership, governance model and the transformation witnessed across the country during his tenure. Both leaders described India’s economic progress, social inclusion, technological advancement and democratic strengthening as the defining achievements of this period.

In his article, former Prime Minister H. D. Deve Gowda analysed Prime Minister Modi’s tenure from a democratic perspective. He noted that Modi has become the longest-serving democratically elected Prime Minister in India to hold office continuously, surpassing the record previously held by Jawaharlal Nehru.

Highlighting the expansion of Indian democracy, Deve Gowda pointed out that while the first general election in 1952 saw the participation of only 53 political parties and around 170 million voters, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections witnessed the participation of 2,593 political parties, with India’s population exceeding 1.46 billion.

Deve Gowda further stated that the present Union Council of Ministers is broader and more inclusive in terms of social representation. He noted that the Modi Cabinet includes 27 ministers from Other Backward Classes (OBCs), 10 from Scheduled Castes (SCs) and five from Scheduled Tribes (STs).

He described the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (Women’s Reservation Bill) as a historic step towards enhancing women’s political participation. According to him, the legislation will pave the way for stronger representation of women in Parliament and state legislatures.

Deve Gowda also observed that in the age of social media, criticism in public life has become increasingly personal and intense. Despite this, he said, Prime Minister Modi has remained consistently active in providing direction to the nation. He also highlighted the Prime Minister’s firm leadership on national security issues and his direct engagement with citizens through programmes such as “Mann Ki Baat.”

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, in his article, described Prime Minister Modi’s guiding principles of “Nation First” and “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas” (Together with All, Development for All, Trust of All) as the foundation of India’s development journey. He said that Prime Minister Modi has presented a new development model by blending India’s cultural heritage and civilisational pride with modern governance and technology.

According to Naidu, India has achieved remarkable economic progress over the past 12 years. He stated that the country has risen from being the world’s 11th-largest economy to becoming the fourth-largest economy globally. He described Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), the Jan Dhan Yojana, Aadhaar and UPI as landmark initiatives that have significantly advanced financial inclusion.

Naidu further noted that more than ₹51 lakh crore has been transferred directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, eliminating intermediaries and enhancing transparency in the implementation of government welfare schemes.

He stated that the Modi government has made substantial investments in highways, railways, ports, airports and renewable energy over the years. Naidu also praised the concept of “competitive and cooperative federalism,” describing it as the foundation for stronger coordination between the Centre and the states.

According to him, Andhra Pradesh has benefited significantly from this approach. He said that projects such as Amaravati, along with industrial development, infrastructure expansion and the adoption of emerging technologies, have progressed substantially with the support of the Central Government.

Naidu added that history would remember this era not only for economic growth and political stability but also for restoring India’s self-confidence and advancing the vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047” (Developed India 2047).

Both leaders emphasised in their articles that Prime Minister Modi’s 12-year tenure represents far more than political stability. According to them, it embodies the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India), technological progress, social inclusion and India’s rising stature on the global stage. They asserted that this period would be recorded as a significant chapter in India’s developmental history, one that has provided the nation with renewed confidence, modernisation and a stronger role in global leadership.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar