PM Narendra Modi becomes most followed serving world leader on X
Aditi Tandon
New Delhi, July 14
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday became the most followed serving world leader on social media platform X, far outpacing US President Joe Biden who has 38.1 million X followers.
At home, when comparing the social media followings of politicians, BJP’s Modi with 100 million ranks far ahead of all others, including Congress’s Rahul Gandhi with 26.4 million followers, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with 27.5 million, Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav with 19.9 million, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee with 7.4 million. RJD’s Lalu Prasad Yadav with 6.3 million, RJD’s Tejashwi Yadav with 5.2 million and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar with 2.9 million.
Globally, Modi is much ahead of most world leaders with nearly three times the Twitter following as that of Biden’s.
Sheikh Mohammed, the present ruler of Dubai, has 11.2 million and Pope Francis has 18.5 million followers.
Former US President Barack Obama with over 130 million X followers is the only global leader ahead of Modi on the micro blogging site. Obama, however, is not a serving head of state.
Sources in the PMO said world leaders have been actively engaging with PM Modi’s social media accounts in view of his mass popularity and following.
“We have seen this recently in Italy as well as in Austria,” sources said referring to Italian PM Georgia Meloni’s famed selfie with Modi.
Prime Minister Modi also has more followers than celebrated athletes like Virat Kohli (64.1 million), Brazilian footballer Neymar Jr (63.6 million) and American basketball player LeBron James (52.9 million).
Further, Modi is ahead of personalities like Taylor Swift (95.3 million), Lady Gaga (83.1 million), and Kim Kardashian (75.2 million).
Data analytics show that in the last three years, PM Modi’s X handle has seen an impressive growth of approximately 30 million users.
His influence extends to YouTube and Instagram as well, where he has nearly 25 million subscribers and over 91 million followers respectively.
Modi had joined X in 2009 with sources saying that he has consistently used the platform for constructive engagement.
“PM Modi maintains an active and engaging persona, follows numerous common citizens, interacts with them, and has never blocked anyone. He has always used this platform organically, without ever resorting to paid promotions or bots,” said sources.
Modi tweet on reaching 100 million on X
“A hundred million on @X ! Happy to be on this vibrant medium and cherish the discussion, debate, insights, people’s blessings, constructive criticism and more. Looking forward to an equally engaging time in the future as well.”
