Lucknow: The former Chief Minister of Gujarat and current Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Anandiben Patel, set a new record on July 29 by becoming the longest-serving Governor in the state’s history, completing six years in office.

Patel, who served as the first and only woman Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2014 to 2016, now also holds the distinction of being the longest-serving Governor during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure at the Centre. However, she is still not among the country’s top five longest-serving Governors overall.

After stepping down as Gujarat’s Chief Minister on August 7, 2016, Patel went on to serve as Governor of Madhya Pradesh and later took on additional charge of Chhattisgarh before assuming office in Uttar Pradesh on July 29, 2019. Since then, she has held the post for six years. Notably, a Governor’s term is generally five years; however, a Governor can remain in office beyond five years if their successor has not yet taken charge — which has happened in the case of Anandiben Patel, whose five-year term ended last year itself.

Born in Kharod village of Vijapur taluka in Mehsana district of North Gujarat during British rule, Anandiben is now 83 years old. DeshGujarat