Sikkim CM Is Longest Serving Chief Minister In India

Contrary to the claims made by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu that he is the most senior -most politician with over 40 years of experience, Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling has created new political history in India on April 28 as the longest serving Chief Minister. He will be taking the record to another distance given that there is still one year more to go in his fifth term as the Chief Minister of Sikkim.

West Bengal Chief Minister late Jyoti Basu so far was the longest serving Chief Minister. Basu was the Chief Minister for five terms from June 21, 1977 to November 6, 2000. However, he did not complete his fifth term due to health reasons and handed over charge to Buddhadeb Bhattacharya.

Jyoti Basu’s record was broken on Saturday by Chamling as the longest serving Chief Minister in Indian politics. Chamling had first taken office as the Chief Minister of Sikkim on December 12, 1994. Since then, he has led his Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) for five terms in the state.

It is surprising that when seasoned politicians were around, Chandrababu continues to make tall claims that is the seniormost politician is the country. Karunanidhi, former chief minister of Tamil Nadu and the ailing DMK patriarch, became TN chief minister in 1969! It took Chandrababu Naidu another 26 years to become the chief minister by betraying his father-in-law, NTR. It followed one of the darkest episodes in the history of post-independent democracy, the ugly Viceroy Hotel incident.