‘Leader Who Valued Simplicity Over Luxury’: Maharashtra CM Fadnavis Recalls 1st Meeting With PM Modi
By Manjiri Joshi,News18
Copyright news18
Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday on September 17, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in a post on X recalled his first meeting with the PM.
What stayed with Fadnavis, he wrote, was how Modi valued simplicity over luxury.
“When I first met Narendra Modi ji in Nagpur, I did not know that the moment would leave such a lasting impression on me. I was a young Mayor then, eager to learn from the senior leaders of our party. It was during an Abhyaas Varg held in Reshimbagh. I was also serving as the president of Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha, Nagpur, and the responsibility of organizing the event was mine. We had made arrangements for every guest. Proper rest houses were kept ready for all dignitaries,” wrote Fadnavis.
“When Modi ji arrived, he first paid his respects at Dr. Hedgewar’s memorial. Later, when I asked where he would like to stay, I thought he would choose the rest house like the other leaders. Instead, he simply said he wanted to stay in the small room inside Reshimbagh meant for Sangh karyakartas,” said the CM.
#MYMODISTORY
When I first met @narendramodi ji in Nagpur, I did not know that the moment would leave such a lasting impression on me. I was a young Mayor then, eager to learn from the senior leaders of our party.
It was during an Abhyaas Varg held in Reshimbagh. I was also… pic.twitter.com/95pzeXunYS
— Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) September 16, 2025
“I was struck by that choice. It showed me his humility and his strong connection with the Sangh tradition. Throughout the event, he observed every detail and ensured that all the participants were comfortable. That first meeting shaped my impression of him. I saw a leader who valued simplicity over luxury and service over status. That image of Narendra Modi ji has always remained with me,” wrote the CM.
Maharashtra will be holding a massive cleanliness campaign to mark the 75th birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The initiative will be led by the state’s skill development department. It will see thousands of ITI students come together to clean 750 villages. The campaign will be launched in Panvel taluka’s Gavhan gram panchayat at 11 am on Wednesday.
While skill development minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha will inaugurate it, while Fadnavis will be the chief mentor.
