Prime Minister Narendra Modi has broken Pawan Kumar Chamling’s historic record for the most number of days in an elected office on Sunday.
The PM has now spent 8931 days in office, becoming the longest-serving elected head of a government in the country.
Previously, Chamling held the record after serving 8930 days as the chief minister of Sikkim.
PM Modi, meanwhile, combines his tenure as chief minister of Gujarat and as Prime Minister.
Modi had also completed 4,078 days in the office as Prime Minister on July 25, 2025, surpassing former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who also served multiple terms.
Who is Pawan Kumar Chamling?
Pawan Kumar Chamling Rai , the founder of the Sikkim Democratic Front SDF had held India's record for the longest number of days as chief minister. He was the head of the elected government from 1994 to 2019.
Chamling was known for his focus on sustainable development, organic farming, and inclusive growth.
He was at one point called the “greenest chief minister of India” as his governance led to an enhancement in the state’s vegetation cover.
He is also a poet and writes under the pen name Pawan Chamling Kumar and has published three collections: Antahin Sapana Mero Bipana, Mo Ko Hun and Praramvik Kavita Haroo. He has also authored books in Nepali, English, and Hindi.
Before Pawan Kumar, the record was held by Jyoti Basi, who served for 23 years and 137 days as the chief minister of West Bengal.
