Age is just a number, PM Modi should continue leading India: Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said age was just a number for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and he should continue to lead the country till he has the capacity reported news agency PTISpeaking at a conclave Fadnavis attacked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi saying he was irrelevant to the youth and Gen Z adding that those who think what happened in Nepal will happen here should go to the neighbouring country reported PTIPM Modi turned 75 on September 17 He is the third longest serving prime minister of India after Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi and second in terms of an uninterrupted tenureDescribing Modi as a visionary and efficient leader Fadnavis said Age is just a number for him considering his physical and mental capability When does the age factor matter when your physical and mental capacities reduceBut that is not the case with PM Modi He should continue to lead us till he has the capacity reported PTITalking about himself the CM said being a Brahmin does not pose a hurdle in his political path and his future will be decided by the BJPEntire Maharashtra knows my caste and they have accepted me In 2014 PM Narendra Modi handed me the reins of the state and for three subsequent elections BJP under me has won more than 100 seats So the caste issue which was considered negative in politics is settled he said reported PTIWhen asked whether he would take up any role at the national level Fadnavis said he will continue to lead the state for the current term of five years after which the party will decide about his futureTo a query about the recent Devabhau advertisements in newspapers he said the BJP published it to show that the state was functioning as per the ideals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj reported PTIWhat did the advertisement show That I am offering floral tributes to the legendary warrior king who didnt discriminate against any community Marathas were given their due in reservation and the OBC quota wasnt touched he saidWhy are our political rivals uncomfortable he asked reported PTIFullpage newspaper advertisements featuring only Fadnavis were published on September 6 the last day of the Ganesh festival generating a lot of curiosity in political circles as there was no mention of the person or group who sponsored itOn being asked if the advertisement showed that he was all alone in his path the CM said he was never alone and he has the shield of BJP with himThe CM said he does not run away from challenges and takes them head onIf the Maratha quota issue was a challenge some days ago now it is the massive rains and floods Thats the beauty of governance and democracy No issue is permanently settled in politics he said reported PTIReplying to a query on Rahul Gandhis X post on Gen Z Fadnavis said the Congress leader was irrelevant to the youth and Gen ZIndias Gen Z is involved in the startup ecosystem engineers in AIThey are in Silicon Valley Indias Gen Z thinks differently Those who think what happened in Nepal will happen here should go to the neighbouring country Fadnavis saidThe Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha last week launched his fresh offensive against the Election Commission of India ECI and reiterated his vote chori allegations In a post on X he said The nations youth the nations students the nations Gen Z will defend the Constitution protect democracy and stop vote theft I always stand with them Jai HindFadnavis also said just like the noncreamy layer in OBC reservation there will be subclassification in Scheduled Caste SC as well A committee has been set up to work on it he saidReferring to his alliance partners and deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar Fadnavis said all three of them were seasoned leaders and understood the limits of coalition politicsThey can keep their aspirations and there is no harm in it In our alliance BJP is the strong centre pole which keeps the coalition together In the MVA all three parties considered themselves equal and hence it didnt last he said reported PTIThe BJP will face the 2029 Maharashtra assembly polls in alliance with Eknath Shinde and Ajit PawarIn politics nothing is impossible but there will be no change in allies he saidWhen asked about his name doing rounds for the post of BJP president he said it was only being talked about in media circlesWith inputs from PTI