Video Editor: Sandeep Suman
An RSS shakha member, the youngest mayor from Nagpur, BJP's first chief minister to complete full term in Maharashtra Assembly...PM Modi's blue-eyed boy – Devendra Fadnavis takes oath for a second term as Maharashtra chief minister, with NCP's Ajit Pawar as his deputy in a sudden twist of events.
This, even as a Sena-Congress-NCP alliance seemed certain about taking over in Maharashtra, with NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut confirming the night before that Uddhav Thackeray would be the next chief minister.
But Devendra Fadnavis returned to the Maharashtra hot seat with a bang. And on that note, here are 10 things you didn’t know about him:
1. He Painted Walls for ABVP
Fadnavis began his political career in the mid-nineties. As a college student, Fadnavis was an active member of BJP-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). As a ground worker, he painted walls and distributed ABVP posters.
2. He Was Nagpur’s Youngest Corporator
At the age of 21, he was elected the youngest municipal corporator from Nagpur. He won his first municipal election from the Ram Nagar ward.
3. He Was India’s Second Youngest Mayor
Six years later, Fadnavis was elected the youngest mayor of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation and became the second youngest mayor in the history of India.
4. He is a Lawyer With an MBA
After completing school, Fadnavis had enrolled at Government Law College in Nagpur, for a five-year integrated law degree, and graduated in 1992.
Fadnavis also has a post-graduate degree in Business Management and a diploma in Methods and Techniques of Project Management from German Foundation for International Development, Berlin.
5. And a Model!!
Photographer and Fadnavis’ childhood friend, Vivek Ranade, had once roped in the Maharashtra CM for modelling for a garment store in Nagpur. That resulted in his photos finding a place on the billboards in Maharashtra.
6. His Father was Gadkari’s Guru
His father, Gangadharrao Fadnavis, who was a member of the Jan Sangh and served as a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council from Nagpur, was veteran politician and Union minister Nitin Gadkari’s political mentor.
7. He Dropped Out Of School During Emergency
Fadnavis was a student of Indira Convent, named after then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. During the Emergency, Fadnavis' father, Gangadharrao, was jailed for alleged anti-government protests. Fadnavis dropped out of school because he did not want to attend a school named after Gandhi.
He later attended RSS-affiliated Saraswati Vidyalaya.
8. He was the Second Youngest CM
At 44, he was sworn-in as the second youngest chief minister of Maharashtra when he took oath on 31 October 2014. At 38, Sharad Pawar was the youngest chief minister of the state.
9. He Was Awarded the Best Parliamentarian Award
Devendra Fadnavis was awarded the Best Parliamentarian Award by Commonwealth Parliamentary Association back in 2002-03. He was also awarded the prestigious Nag Bhushan award for his work for the cause of Vidarbha for the year 2016
10. He is a Writer too
Devendra Fadnavis has written three books in Marathi. ‘How To Understand and Read the State Budget’ is one them.
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