THIS is with reference to the lucid, pungent and as usual highly-readable column ‘Wars & Grudges’ (May 26) by F.S. Aijazuddin, which carried a statement, saying: “… (Modi, on May 26, 2026) completed 12 years in power. He is the longest serving elected prime minister of India, surpassing the tenure of the midwife of Indepen-

dence — Jawaharlal Nehru.” However, the factual record shows that Nehru served as the first prime minister of India initially on an interim basis from August 15, 1947, to January 20, 1950, till the adoption of the Constitution which led to the holding of the first elections.

He then led the Indian National Congress to victory in three general elections, and continued in office till his demise on May 27, 1964. This makes for a total of 16 years and 286 days. Even after subtracting his tenure before the adoption of the Constitution and the first elections, Nehru’s total time in office was still more than 14 years, which is more than Modi’s tenure of 12 years.

Nehru was an elected prime minister for 16 years and 286 days because his interim 1947-50 tenure was the continuation of his elected status as the Head of Government from the pre-independence 1946 elections.

Name withheld on request
Karachi

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2026