Devendra Fadnavis turns 55: PM Modi, Amit Shah lead birthday wishes
Synopsis
Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde all publicly marked Devendra Fadnavis’s 55th birthday on 22 July — a coordinated show of solidarity around Maharashtra’s chief minister that reflects the Mahayuti alliance’s current political cohesion.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi wished Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on his birthday on 22 July , saying the state is ‘scaling new heights of growth.’ Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also extended wishes via posts on X.
Devendra Fadnavis was born on 22 July 1970 in Nagpur and is serving his third term as Maharashtra’s 18th Chief Minister since December 2024 .
He became CM at 44 , the second-youngest in Maharashtra’s history after Sharad Pawar .
In 1997 , at age 27 , Fadnavis became the youngest mayor of Nagpur and the second-youngest mayor in India’s history.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, 22 July extended birthday greetings to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, saying the state is scaling new heights of growth under his leadership. The wishes poured in from across the ruling alliance, with senior Union ministers joining in to mark the day.
PM Modi's Message
In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi wrote, “Greetings to Maharashtra CM Shri Devendra Fadnavis Ji on his birthday. Under his leadership, Maharashtra is scaling new heights of growth across diverse sectors. I pray for his long and healthy life.”
Shah, Rajnath Singh Add Their Voices
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also posted on X, saying, “Heartfelt birthday wishes to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis. Under the guidance of Modi ji, you are continuously promoting public welfare and good governance in Maharashtra. I pray to God for your excellent health and a long life.”
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described Fadnavis as “a dynamic and dedicated leader” working to accelerate Maharashtra’s development “through transparent governance, infrastructure expansion, and people-centric initiatives.” Singh added that Fadnavis’s “unwavering commitment to public service continues to strengthen Maharashtra’s progress and contribute to the vision of a Viksit Bharat.”
Shinde's Tribute
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde took to social media with an effusive tribute, calling Fadnavis “a walking-talking university of politics” and “a people’s leader with a modern vision for development.” Shinde extended “endless birthday wishes” and wished him a long life.
Who Is Devendra Fadnavis
Born on 22 July 1970 in Nagpur, Fadnavis is currently serving his third term as the 18th Chief Minister of Maharashtra, a position he has held since December 2024. He previously served as Deputy Chief Minister alongside Ajit Pawar in the Eknath Shinde-led government from 2022 to 2024, and as Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from 2019 to 2022.
Notably, Fadnavis became Chief Minister at the age of 44, making him the second-youngest person to hold the post in Maharashtra’s history, after Sharad Pawar. Earlier in his career, in 1997, at just 27, he became the youngest mayor of Nagpur and the second-youngest mayor in India’s history at the time.
What This Signals
The coordinated outpouring of wishes from the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and Defence Minister underscores Fadnavis’s standing within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the broader Mahayuti alliance. As Maharashtra heads into a period of significant infrastructure and economic activity, the ruling coalition’s public solidarity around its chief minister signals a stable political arrangement for now.
Point of View
Shah, and Rajnath Singh is not merely ceremonial — it is a public reaffirmation of Fadnavis’s position within the BJP’s national hierarchy at a time when Maharashtra’s political landscape remains closely watched. Fadnavis has navigated a complex coalition across three distinct political configurations since 2022, and the Centre’s visible endorsement signals that New Delhi views him as its most reliable anchor in a state that sends the largest bloc of Lok Sabha seats. What is less discussed is whether the effusive praise translates into greater resource flows or policy latitude for Maharashtra — the real metric of a chief minister’s standing in Delhi’s calculus.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Devendra Fadnavis’s birthday?
Devendra Fadnavis was born on 22 July 1970 in Nagpur, Maharashtra. He turned 55 on 22 July 2025.
What did PM Modi say on Devendra Fadnavis’s birthday?
PM Modi posted on X that Maharashtra is ‘scaling new heights of growth across diverse sectors’ under Fadnavis’s leadership and prayed for his long and healthy life.
How many times has Devendra Fadnavis been Maharashtra’s Chief Minister?
Fadnavis is currently serving his third term as Maharashtra’s Chief Minister, a post he has held since December 2024. He is the state’s 18th Chief Minister.
What makes Devendra Fadnavis notable in Maharashtra’s political history?
Fadnavis became Chief Minister at 44, making him the second-youngest person to hold the post in Maharashtra’s history after Sharad Pawar. In 1997, at 27, he was also the youngest mayor of Nagpur and the second-youngest mayor in India’s history at the time.
Who else wished Devendra Fadnavis on his birthday?
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh both posted birthday wishes on X. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also extended wishes on social media.
