Narendra Modi Indian politician and statesman, Prime Minister of India since May 26, 2014 Date of Birth: 17.09.1950 Country: India

1. Early Life and Political Beginnings
2. Political Career in Gujarat
3. Controversial and Accomplished Leader
4. Prime Ministerial Ambitions
5. Election Victory and Formation of Government
6. Inauguration and Foreign Relations
7. Global Recognition and Influence
8. Personal Life and Social Media

Early Life and Political Beginnings

Narendra Damodardas Modi was born on September 17, 1950, in Vadnagar, Gujarat, India. He was the third of six children born to Damodardas Mulchand Modi and Hiraben Modi. From a young age, Modi developed an interest in politics and joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a Hindu nationalist organization. He later earned a degree in political science.

Political Career in Gujarat

In 1998, Modi was entrusted by then-President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Lal Krishna Advani, to oversee the party's election campaigns in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. In October 2001, he became the Chief Minister of Gujarat, replacing Keshu Bhai Patel. He was re-elected for a third term in 2007 and a fourth term in 2012.

Controversial and Accomplished Leader

Modi is a highly polarizing figure both within India and internationally. His handling of the 2002 Gujarat riots, in which Indian Muslims were targeted, drew severe criticism and accusations of inadequate protection. Despite this, Modi enjoys immense support among the people of Gujarat and is credited with overseeing a period of rapid economic growth in the state during the 2000s. He was named India's best Chief Minister by the popular magazine, India Today, in 2006 and 2011.

Prime Ministerial Ambitions

On September 13, 2013, Narendra Modi was named the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate and led the party's campaign in the 2014 general elections. He campaigned tirelessly, holding 440 rallies across the country and effectively leveraging social media platforms, including 3D holograms, to connect with voters virtually. The BJP's electoral slogan was "Nationalism is Our Inspiration; Development and Good Governance is Our Goal."

Election Victory and Formation of Government

The elections were held in nine phases between April 7 and May 12, with a voter turnout of 66.38%. On May 16, the Election Commission of India began tallying the votes. Initial projections indicated that the BJP was leading in 276 constituencies out of 543, while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was ahead in 331. Acknowledging the BJP's overwhelming victory, Congress leader Rajiv Shukla stated, "We accept the mandate of the people. We are ready to sit in the opposition." The BJP was estimated to win 277 seats in the newly constituted Lok Sabha, surpassing the 272 required for a majority, while the Congress was projected to win around 100 seats. Incumbent Prime Minister Manmohan Singh congratulated Narendra Modi on his election victory, while Modi tweeted, "India has won! Good days are coming." The final tally gave the BJP 339 seats in Parliament.

Inauguration and Foreign Relations

On May 17, Narendra Modi traveled from Gujarat to Delhi for a victory parade that culminated at the BJP headquarters. Police and paramilitary forces lined the streets as Modi's motorcade passed through, with people cheering, waving flags, showering flowers, singing, and dancing to the sounds of a brass band and traditional Indian flutes. Modi stepped out of his car several times to wave and flash the victory sign to the crowd. Later that day, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh conceded the BJP's victory and submitted his resignation, stating that he had "tried his best to serve the great people" of India. According to the established protocol, Modi met with President Pranab Mukherjee to formally accept the position of Prime Minister. His swearing-in ceremony was held on May 26, with dignitaries and foreign leaders in attendance, including Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. It was the first time that both Indian and Pakistani Prime Ministers had attended each other's inaugurations. Other SAARC leaders, including the presidents of Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, as well as the Prime Ministers of Nepal and Bhutan and the Speaker of Bangladesh, were also present. Speaking at the event, Nawaz Sharif said that Modi's election opened new possibilities for improved relations between the two countries. The next day, Modi held bilateral talks with Sharif, discussing cooperation in various areas, including border security.

Global Recognition and Influence

In 2018, Forbes ranked Narendra Modi as the 9th most powerful person in the world. He had also held the same position in 2015 and 2016. In a 2022 article for the Russian newspaper Kommersant, Modi highlighted the need to break free from the zero-sum mindset that sees one party's gain as another's loss.

Personal Life and Social Media

Narendra Modi belongs to the Ghanchi caste, a traditionally low-ranking community of oil-pressers and grocers. This has influenced his political strategy, as he has cultivated a "common man" image, presenting himself as someone who understands the struggles of ordinary people.

Modi was briefly married in his youth to a woman named Jashodaben Chimanlal, but he soon left her and has not publicly mentioned their relationship since. He is an active user of social media, maintaining a large following. As of January 2019, he had 45 million Twitter followers, surpassed only by Barack Obama (104.1 million) and Donald Trump (57.2 million). Modi frequently tweets in the native language of the country he is visiting. He is a vegetarian and writes poetry in Gujarati.