Naveen Patnaik replaces Jyoti Basu as 2nd-longest-serving CM in country

 Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik equals Jyoti Basu's record as 2nd longest-serving CM in India. He has held position for 23 yrs & 138 days

PTI, Bhubaneswar, Jul 22, 2023 : Odisha’s Naveen Patnaik on Saturday became the second-longest-serving chief minister in the country, replacing West Bengal’s Jyoti Basu.

Former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling still holds the record of being the longest-serving CM in the country. He was the CM of the Himalayan state from December 12, 1994 till May 27, 2019 — more than 24 years.

Patnaik, the five-time chief minister of Odisha, took charge on March 5, 2000, and holds the post for 23 years and 138 days.

Basu served as the chief minister of West Bengal from June 21, 1977 to November 5, 2000, which was 23 years and 137 days.

Patnaik is also the third leader after Chamling and Basu to become the chief minister of a state for five consecutive times. If the ruling BJD wins the 2024 elections, Patnaik will be the longest-serving chief minister in India.

BJD vice president Prasanna Acharya said, “We are happy that our chief minister has crossed the record of West Bengal’s former CM Jyoti Basu. I am sure that Patnaik will break all the records of the past, and will emerge as the longest-serving CM.” Congress leader SS Saluja said, “We congratulate Naveen Patnaik for becoming the second-longest-serving CM, but we are pained that Patnaik is not doing anything during his term.” Senior BJP leader Suresh Pujari said history will not remember how long one serves as the chief minister, but how one creates history within a short span of time.

Ed:

On April 28, 2018, Pawan Kumar Chamling became the longest-serving chief minister in the country, overtaking former West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu's record of 23 years and 4 months. In May 2014, he was sworn in as Sikkim chief minister for the record fifth consecutive time. A look at some other chief ministers who remained in office for long.

Jyoti Basu was an Indian Marxist ideologue, theorist and statesman belonging to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) from West Bengal. He served as the Chief Minister of West Bengal state from 1977 to 2000. He was the longest-serving chief minister of any Indian state after being pipped by Sikkim's Pawan Chamling. Basu was a member of the CPI(M) Politburo from the time of the party's founding in 1964 until 2008. From 2008 until his death in 2010 he remained a permanent invitee to the central committee of the party.

Lal Thanhawla was the former Chief Minister of Mizoram from 11 December 2008 to 11 December 2018. Previously he was Chief Minister from 1984 to 1986 and from 1989 to 1998. He was elected to another term in the 2013 Mizoram Legislative Assembly election. This was the fifth time he was elected to the office of Chief Minister, which is a record in Mizoram. He belongs to the Congress. His electoral constituencies are Serchhip and Hrangturzo. He successfully contested the general elections nine times, in 1978, 1979, 1984, 1987, 1993, 2003, 2008, and 2013.

Manik Sarkar served as the Chief Minister of Tripura from March 1998 to March 2018. He is a Politburo Member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). In March 2008, he was sworn in as leader of Left Front, the Tripura coalition government. In assembly elections held in 2013, he became the chief minister for the fourth consecutive time. Currently, he serves as the Leader of Opposition in Tripura Legislative Assembly.

Mohan Lal Sukhadia was an Indian politician, who served as the Chief Minister of Rajasthan state for 17 years (1954–1971). He became chief minister at age 38 and was responsible for bringing major reforms and developments in Rajasthan. For this, he is still widely revered as the "founder of modern Rajasthan".