PM Narendra Modi likely to move to 7 RCR on Friday: sources

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is still placed at the Gujarat Bhawan, is likely to move to 7 Race Course Road on Friday, say sources. According to the sources, 7 Race Course Road houses five bungalows spread over about 12 acres.
Modi will be the first Prime Minister who will move into the official residence of the Prime Minister of India without his family. Till now all the other 14 Prime Ministers have had a family or at least have had some family members who moved in with them.
Modi has a small team of highly efficient and loyal personal assistants. Badri, his personal cook for over 12 years is considered extremely close to him and has already visited the PM’s official bungalow to check if everything is in place for his master. Like most Gujaratis Modi, too, is a strict vegetarian and Badri is considered to be good at preparing delicious Gujarati food. He will be the in charge of the kitchen and will be busy making dhoklas and khakras at the PM’s house.Normally, the cooks from government run India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) hotels work at the PM’s residence. However, most PM’s bring their own cook who is assisted by the ITDC staff members.
Modi is not the first vegetarian Prime Minister. There have been many vegetarian Prime Ministers in the past. Lal Bahadur Shastri was a strict vegetarian. Former Prime Minister Morarji Desai, who was also a Gujarati, was also a vegetarian. Charan Singh and PV Narasimha Rao were also vegetarians. HD Deve Gowda, too, is also a strict vegetarian.
Modi’s two other most trusted assistants Dinesh Singh and OP Thakur have moved to the national capital with him. Retired IAS officer Kailasanathan, who was his Principal Secretary when he was the chief minister, is likely to be his Principal Secretary in the PM’s Office (PMO).
According to Modi’s close aides, he does not have many personal belongings. He is fond of gadgets and his laptop, tab, iPod, etc, which have been carefully packed and sent to New Delhi.
Modi reads newspapers and monitors TV channels and their websites on his tab. He always keeps a copy of ‘Ramacharitamanas’ in his vehicle and is likely to continue with this habit even after he takes charge as the Prime Minister.
His security staff members believe that the holy book protects him from his enemies. According to Gujarati media reports, Modi has not spent a single paisa from his salary as the Gujarat Chief Minister in the last 13 years and he has decided to spend the money on the education of the children of his staff at the Gandhinagar secretariat.
Modi also does not keep the mementos and other gifts with him. He auctions them and donates the money for the education of girls in Gujarat.