Italian PM Meloni congratulates PM Modi on surpassing Nehru's record, recalls recent Rome meeting

NEW DELHI: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he surpassed Jawaharlal Nehru's record to become India's longest-serving elected Prime Minister.PM Modi completed 4,399 consecutive days in office, overtaking Nehru's tenure as an elected prime minister. He has served continuously since first taking office in 2014.Meloni, who shares a warm rapport with Prime Minister Modi, congratulated him in a post on X. The two leaders have often drawn attention on social media, where their friendly interactions have inspired the popular "Melodi" nickname among internet users."Congratulations to Narendra Modi who today becomes the longest-serving elected Prime Minister in the history of India," Meloni wrote.The Italian leader also recalled PM Modi's recent visit to Italy, during which the two leaders held bilateral talks and launched a new framework for cooperation."It has been a pleasure to meet again in Rome in recent weeks and to launch together a Special Strategic Partnership that looks to the future to create new opportunities for our Nations and our peoples," she added.PM Modi visited Italy in May, where a light-hearted moment between the two leaders grabbed attention online. During the visit, he gifted Meloni a packet of Melody toffees, a playful reference to the "Melodi" nickname that has become synonymous with their public camaraderie over the past few years.