Gujarat CM Modi thanks supporters on completion of a decade in power

Anand (Gujarat), Oct 7 (ANI): Expressing his gratitude to the people of Gujarat as he completed a decade in office, Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the faith entrusted upon him by his followers helped him to govern the state well.

"We have entered the eleventh year after completion of 'Vikas Yatra' and I would like to thank the dignitaries on the stage and all you people for the love and respect that has been showered to me all this while," said Modi during an event in Gujarat's Anand District.

Modi, who was born in a middle class family in Vadnagar, became the chief minister of Gujarat in October 2001. He assumed the office at a time when his predecessor Keshubhai Patel had resigned, following the defeat of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the by-elections.

Modi's tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister began on October 7, 2001. In July 2007, he became the longest serving chief minister in Gujarat's history when he had been in power for 2063 days continuously.

Modi was elected again for a third term on December 23, 2007 with an emphatic win in the state elections.

Modi also expressed grief over the recent demise of former Apple CEO Steve Jobs, and said that his death has left a huge void in the world of technology and innovation.

"Now that Steve in no more I would like to say that all those who are associated to the world of I-Pad, tears of sorrow must be dripping from their fingers. When a tragedy occurs then we cry from our eyes, if it is serious incident then the heart weeps. But with the death of Steve, the tears are falling from every finger, such a person has departed from the world," he said.

Former Apple CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs, who revolutionized personal computing, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 56. (ANI)