Simple arithmetic says Jawaharlal Nehru served 4,398 consecutive days as prime minister after being sworn in following India’s first general election in 1952. Narendra Modi surpassed that figure by completing 4,399 consecutive days in office. The numbers are accurate. However, the conclusion drawn from them is less straightforward.

What is often overlooked is that Nehru had already been prime minister for nearly five years before the first general election. He assumed office on August 15, 1947, when India became independent from British rule. He continued in that position after India became a Republic on January 26, 1950, and remained prime minister until his death on May 27, 1964.

If his service from Independence to his death is counted, Nehru’s tenure stretches to 6,130 days. By that measure, Modi still has a considerable distance to cover.

Nehru’s Interim Government RoleAllowance must also be made for Nehru’s role in the Interim Government that preceded Independence. On September 2, 1946, the British administration constituted an Interim Government to facilitate the transfer of power to Indian hands.

The Viceroy remained the formal head of the Executive Council, but Jawaharlal Nehru was appointed vice-president of the Council, effectively functioning as the head of government. The Interim Government included prominent leaders from different communities and political backgrounds. Nehru himself handled key departments, such as external affairs and Commonwealth relations.

The government served as a bridge between colonial administration and sovereign........

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