Sikkim's Chamling pips Jyoti Basu to become India's longest serving CM

Sikkim's Pawan Chamling has set a new record in the country by becoming the longest serving chief minister of a state, a title that Jyoti Basu, the former CPI(M) patriarch of West Bengal, had held so far.

The 68-year-old founding president of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) completed 25 years of uninterrupted service in office yesterday.

He was sworn in as the chief minister of Sikkim for the first time on December 12, 1994.

Born on September 22, 1950, at Yangang, South Sikkim, to Asha Rani Chamling and Lt. Aash Bahadur, Pawan Chamling dropped out of school after matriculation. He started his political career at the age of 32.

Pawan Chamling served as the Minister for Industries, Information and Public Relations from 1989 to 1992 in the Nar Bahadur Bhandari cabinet. After a series of political upheavals in Sikkim, he formed the SDF in 1993.

Addressing a press conference yesterday at Mintokgang, the official residence of the chief minister, Pawan Chamling said, "I am at the disposal of the people of my state. If they want me to take rest, I am okay with it and if they want me to serve Sikkim, I will continue. I do not have my own agenda."