Date:07/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/07/stories/2007100762111100.htm

National

Modi completes six years in office

Manas Dasgupta

GANDHINAGAR: Narendra Modi on Saturday completed six years as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, so far the longest innings by any Chief Minister in the State.

Mr. Modi became the longest serving Chief Minister in June when he surpassed the former Congress Chief Minister, Madhavsinh Solanki’s record of over 2,020 days in office. Mr. Modi took over as Chief Minister on October 7, 2001, from Keshubhai Patel, in the wake of widespread complaints of the State government’s failure to provide adequate relief to the people after the killer earthquake the same year.

The BJP returned with more than two-thirds majority under his leadership in the December, 2002 elections and Mr. Modi continued to occupy the Chief Minister’s office since then.

Mr. Modi laid the foundation for a 350 MW combined cycle thermal power expansion project of the Gujarat State Energy Generation Limited.