By Dr. Gyan Pathak
The third term of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister of India began on June 9, 2024 and hence June 9, 2026 happened to be an occasion for the BJP to showcase him as the longest serving “elected prime minister” of India surpassing the first prime minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru. Of course, PM Modi has created a milestone, if we count from the first general election in independent India held in 1951-52, and it is great. Nevertheless, the comparison was erroneous because it intended to undermine the contribution and popularity of Nehru, and to humiliate the Congress.
BJP president Nitin Nabin wrote in an article in Times of India, “Congress left the country with a legacy of uncertainty, corruption and weak leadership, while PM Modi has given Bharat a new identity built on self-confidence, good governance, and development. Today, the world sees Bharat not merely as a regional power but as one of the greatest powers of the 21st century. While Congress viewed politics merely as a tool to protect dynastic legacy for years, PM Modi redefined it as a mission of “Nation Above Family” and “Service Above Power”. In 2014, PM (Modi) gave the nations ‘Collective Thinking’, then on the strength of public trust, converted that thinking into ‘Collective Resolve’, and today that very resolve has taken the form of a vast ‘Collective Dream’ in the shape of a ‘Viksit Bharat’.” Many BJP leaders added many other things with the same intention to undermine Nehru’s contribution and his legacy that India is proud of.
It naturally irked the Congress and its leaders. General Secretary of Congress, in-charge of Communication, Jairam Ramesh launched a scathing attack on PM Modi, saying he may have passed a “self-proclaimed and dubiously invented” milestone but he is a “millstone” around India’s neck, presiding over the “murder of democracy”. He said that Nehru became prime minister of India on August 15, 1947 presiding over a stellar Cabinet the like of which have rarely been seen in the word. Over the next five years, modern India came into being.
“Over 560 princely states were integrated peacefully into the Indian Union, the Constitution of India was debated and adopted, zamindari was abolished, reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were put in place, a number of multipurpose irrigation-cum-power projects were launched, the infrastructure for science and technology capability was established (including in nuclear energy), and India emerged as a force in global affairs,” Ramesh said.
“The 1947-52 record of achievements of India with Nehru as PM and in which stalwarts like Sardar Patel, Dr Ambedkar, Dr Rajendra Prasad, C Rajagopalachari, and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad played such a pivotal role is now sought to be erased by Mr Modi who has a pathological fixation on Nehru,” Ramesh said, adding many other things as proof of Nehru’s contribution and legacy while criticising the 12 years of Modi rule.
Narendra Modi became prime minister of the India on May 26, 2014 who competed “uninterrupted” 12 years 15 days as “elected prime minister” of India after its “first general election” held after adoption of the “Constitution of India” and becoming a republic on 26 January, 1950. There are many conditions in it. First condition is “uninterrupted”, if this condition is removed, Indira Gandhi’s tenure was 15 years 350 days, and if the term “Independent India” is used Nehru’s tenure was 16 years 286 days. Modi’s tenure is largest only if we don’t count Nehru’s period of premiership between 15 August 1947 and 15 April 1952 when his second term began.
Let us understand how Nehru became prime minister of India on August 15, 1947 when India became independent. Just before independence, he was de facto head of the government and his formal designation was Vice-President of the Viceroy’s Executive Council and also held the portfolio of External Affairs and Commonwealth Relations. The Viceroy was the formal constitution head of the British India, and Nehru chaired ministerial work and exercised powers similar to those of a prime minister.
Let us also recall that the Interim Government of India under Jawaharlal Nehru was formed on 2 September 1946. Elections were held for Central Legislative Assembly in 1945 under British India in which Congress won most of the general seats, while All-India Muslim League won and overwhelming majority of Muslim seats. Congress argued it represented most Indians and Muslim League under Muhammad Ali Jinnah claimed it represented Muslims of the country. The dispute remained unsettled, and soon after elections were held across British Indian provinces in 1946.
The result reinforced the divide – Congress formed governments in many provinces, and Muslim League dominated Muslim constituencies. In the meantime British government sent the Cabinet Mission in India in 1946 with three important proposals – Keep India united; Create a Central Government; and Group provinces with significant autonomy. Initially, Congress and Muslim League engaged with the plan, but they disagreed later with each other and with the plan. Nevertheless, Interim Government was formed under the leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru.
Therefore, it was on the basis of elections, Nehru took over the charge of the Interim Government. Therefore, BJP’s pushing a narrative, though indirectly, that Nehru was not elected by the people of the country when he became prime minister of India on August 15, 1947 is wrong. We will have to take into consideration the Central Legislative Assembly election of 1945, and also provincial elections of 1946 contested by Congress after which Nehru as its leader, became head of the Interim Government of the British India, the status converted into the post of Prime Minister when India became independent on August 15, 1947.
Now let us see the electoral performance of the Congress under Nehru’s premiership. In general election 1951-52 Congress got 364 seats out of 489 seats with 44.99 per cent of votes, while in 1957 it got 371 seats out of 494 with 47.78 per cent of votes, and in 1962 it got 361 seats out of 494 seats with 44.72 per cent of votes.
Now let us see where Modi stands in comparison. BJP under premiership of Modi got 282 seats in 2014 with 31 per cent vote share, 303 seats in 2019 with 37.3 per cent vote share, and 240 seats in 2024 with 36.6 per cent vote share. Modi compares very low even in terms of electoral politics and popularity of Nehru, whose life was cut short by destiny. Modi must try to achieve the level of love people have for Nehru and the level of international respect, and the great achievements in terms of laying strong foundation economic development and well being of the people which help transitioning India into a Modern India.
We must take into consideration that Man is to err and the God in Divine. Nehru was also a human being, and no human being is free of errors. When we assess the contribution of a person, we don’t disproportionately and dishonestly amplify the errors to denigrate or deny one’s contribution. BJP and its leaders are wrong when they do it in respect of Nehru, and in comparison to Modi. Nehru is not among us to answer the allegations of BJP leaders, and flogging a dead horse is never a civilised thing.
Nevertheless, we should also take note of the milestone of premiership Modi had created. PM Modi has also something to say on this occasion. To mark this occasion, he wrote on X, “Public service is the greatest measure of good governance. It is only the individual who works tirelessly with humility, dedication, and a sense of duty who earns the trust of the people.”We must congratulate Modi for his milestone, but we should also never stop pointing out the pitfalls of the government under his leadership has created for the well-being of the people of India. Modi must know that he is hated by larger percentage of people in India than Nehru, which he must overcome with taking care of all sections of people in the country irrespective of their castes, religions, or economic status. (IPA Service)
