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Who is Narendra Modi?
Narendra Modi is the current Prime Minister of India. He represents Varanasi constituency in the Lok Sabha. He is a prominent leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He assumed office as Prime Minister for his third term on June 9, 2024 after securing a decisive mandate in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
PM Modi also holds charge of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, the Department of Atomic Energy, the Department of Space, all important policy issues, and all other portfolios not allocated to any other minister.
Early life
Born in Gujarat's Vadnagar in 1950, Modi is said to have spent his early childhood working in his family tea stall and also selling tea at railway platforms. While Modi was introduced to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) at the age of 8, he joined BJP in the year 1987. His party won a majority in Gujarat in 1995 and Modi quickly rose up the ranks.
Education
According to Modi’s affidavit submitted to the Election Commission of India (ECI), he received a Master of Arts (MA) degree in political science from Gujarat University in 1983 and in 1978, he received a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in political science Delhi University. There is a controversy surrounding the authenticity of his BA and MA degrees.
Popularity among people
Known for his tech-savvy approach to governance, Modi has leveraged social media platforms to connect with the masses, boasting a significant following on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram. His initiatives, such as 'Mann Ki Baat,' a radio program where he addresses the nation on key issues, have further solidified his image as a leader in touch with the pulse of the people. 'Jyotipunj', ‘Abode of Love’, 'Premtirth', ‘Kelave te Kelavani’ are some of the books written by PM Modi. Some of the books written on him include 'Narendra Modi - The Gamechanger', 'The NaMo Story: A Political Life', 'The Man of the Moment: Narendra Modi', and 'Narendra Modi- A Political Biography'.
PM Modi is known for forging close ties with world leaders and has been recognised for his efforts on various fronts, including environmental conservation, welfare schemes, hosting G20 summit in 2023, inaugurating the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, among others. However, his critics argue that his government has suppressed dissent.
Chief Minister of Gujarat (2001–2014)
Modi has been the Chief Minister of Gujarat for four consecutive terms.
In 2001, when the BJParty’s Keshubhai Patel stepped down as Gujarat chief minister in the wake of the Bhuj earthquake that killed thousands of people, Modi was selected as Patel’s replacement. He remained in power in the state until May 22, till 2014.
As the state’s chief minister, he was credited with leading development activities in Gujarat. However, in 2002, critics accused the state government led by Modi of not doing enough to stem the 2002 riots that killed at least 1,000 people.
Prime Minister of India (2014–present)
In 2013, Modi was chosen as the BJP's prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Under his leadership, the party won the 2014 elections with a thumping majority, on the back of a so-called ‘Modi wave’ and capitalising on the popular discontent against the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, which had been mired in controversies following several scams and charges of impropriety against some of its leaders.
In the 2014 polls, Modi contested from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Vadodara in Gujarat, winning both seats convincingly. However, he retained the Varanasi seat and relinquished Vadodara, in accordance with the law.
In the 2019 elections, Modi once again contested from Varanasi, securing an even larger victory margin than before. He defeated his nearest rival, the Mahagathbandhan's Shalini Yadav, by a margin of 479,505 votes.
In the 2024 general elections, PM Modi won the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat for the third time in a row. The prime minister defeated Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajai Rai by 152,513 votes, securing 612,970 (54.24 per cent) votes in total while Rai had to settle for 460,457 (40.74 per cent).
He called the mandate "a historic feat". "People have placed their faith in NDA, for a third consecutive time! This is a historic feat in India's history. I bow to the janata janardan for this affection and assure them that we will continue the good work done in the last decade to keep fulfilling the aspirations of people. I also salute all our karyakartas for their hard work. Words will never do justice to their exceptional efforts," he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).