12 June,2026 03:12 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
CM Fadnavis stated that the country was moving steadily towards becoming a USD 5 trillion economy. File Pic
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Friday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi following his completion of 12 years in office, describing him as not only the country's longest-serving elected Prime Minister but also its "finest-serving" leader, reported the PTI.
Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Fadnavis said Modi had transformed India across multiple sectors and significantly enhanced the country's standing on the global stage.
Congratulating the Prime Minister on achieving the milestone, CM Fadnavis said the significance of Modi's tenure lay not merely in its duration but in the scale of change witnessed during the period.
He said Modi had changed the face of the country and elevated India's international profile through decisive leadership and development-focused governance.
CM Fadnavis highlighted the strength of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), stating that the alliance currently governs 22 states and represents nearly 80 per cent of India's population, according to the PTI.
He also claimed that Modi remains one of the most popular leaders globally, citing international surveys and approval ratings.
The Chief Minister credited the Modi government with lifting millions out of poverty and expanding social welfare programmes across the country, the news agency reported.
He highlighted flagship schemes including PM-Kisan Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, Jan Dhan Yojana, PM Awas Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana and Lakhpati Didi initiative.
According to Fadnavis, these programmes have improved access to financial services, healthcare, housing and social security for millions of citizens.
Fadnavis said infrastructure spending had increased significantly during Modi's tenure, pointing to developments in highways, airports, metro networks, railway electrification and the expansion of Vande Bharat train services, as per the PTI.
He also noted that direct benefit transfer schemes had enabled substantial funds to be deposited directly into beneficiaries' bank accounts, improving transparency and efficiency.
Referring to economic growth, Fadnavis said India had emerged as the world's fourth-largest economy and continued to record strong growth despite concerns about a global slowdown.
He expressed confidence that the country was moving steadily towards becoming a USD 5 trillion economy.
The Chief Minister also highlighted progress in electronics manufacturing, semiconductor projects, mobile phone production and defence exports.
Fadnavis said the government had pursued a policy of balancing development with cultural and historical preservation.
He cited projects such as the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and the Mahakal Corridor as examples of this approach, reported the PTI.
Prime Minister Modi recently became India's longest-serving elected Prime Minister in consecutive terms, surpassing the tenure record of the country's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
Concluding his remarks, Fadnavis said PM Modi's legacy would be remembered not only for the length of his service but for what he described as a "360-degree transformation" of the nation, the news agency reported.
(with PTI inputs)
