Amit Shah nears longest serving Home Minister record

Amit Shah, now in his second term as the Home Minister of India, has yet to embark on any official foreign tour, underscoring his significance in the domestic functioning of the government, alongside his focus on the BJP's affairs and growth.

- ABHINANDAN MISHRA

His tenure is particularly notable not just for the absence of foreign tours but also for its length. Shah has served as Home Minister for five years and three months, making him one of the longest-serving Home Ministers in India's history.

His tenure is surpassed only by L.K. Advani, who held the position for six years and 64 days, from March 1998 to May 2004, and Gobind Ballabh Pant, who served for six years and 56 days from January 1955 to March 1961.

It is expected that, given the trust he enjoys from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which also allows the PM the flexibility to focus on foreign issues and visits, Shah will become the longest-serving Home Minister of India next year.

His predecessor and current Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh, who served as the Home Minister during the Modi-I tenure, made multiple foreign visits while handling the ministry. In his first nine months after taking oath, Singh visited three different countries.