The swearing-in of Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday evening brought an end to the twelve-day suspenseful drama surrounding the BJP's choice for Maharashtra's next chief minister. A section of Fadnavis supporters had feared that if the party's top leadership applied the Rajasthan-MP-Chhattisgarh pattern—appointing a non-mass leader as CM—Fadnavis might lose his chance. However, the speculation ended when Fadnavis was elected as the Leader of the Legislative Party last Tuesday.
Here are seven reasons why he secured the top spot once again:
1. Acceptable face in the Mahayuti
The BJP needed a strong, experienced leader to head the tri-party alliance (Mahayuti), which includes influential leaders like Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. Fadnavis's rapport with both leaders made him a unifying figure. Additionally, as CM, he is expected to lead a cabinet of political heavyweights, a responsibility that a junior leader could not handle effectively.
2. Leading the party to victory
The BJP contested the Maharashtra assembly elections under Fadnavis's leadership. He served as the party's chief strategist, playing a crucial role in seat-sharing with alliance partners and selecting candidates. Despite setbacks in the Lok Sabha elections due to the Maratha agitation and farmer unrest, Fadnavis steered the BJP to victory.
3. Weakening political opponents
Fadnavis has publicly admitted to playing a role in splitting the BJP’s two major political adversaries in Maharashtra—the Shiv Sena and the NCP. Both parties saw internal rebellions that Fadnavis supported. The breakaway factions of the Shiv Sena and the NCP joined the government in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Notably, Fadnavis was instrumental in bringing the BJP back to power in 2022 by aligning with Eknath Shinde.
4. Strong track record
Fadnavis delivered a stellar performance during his first tenure as CM, emulating Modi’s governance style. Major projects, such as the Samruddhi Super Highway, were initiated or completed under his leadership. He also introduced the Grameen Jal Shivar Yojana to address drought issues in Marathwada. The BJP’s near-victory in the 2017 BMC elections, with strong backing from MNS corporators, was another highlight of his tenure. Even as Leader of the Opposition (2019-2022), he consistently kept Uddhav Thackeray's government under pressure on issues like the Antilia case and corruption allegations against then-Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.
5. RSS backing
Fadnavis enjoys strong support from the BJP’s ideological mentor, the RSS. Having studied in an RSS-run school and spending his public life through the organization, his ties with the RSS are longstanding. Despite the RSS's dissatisfaction with the BJP’s Lok Sabha performance, Fadnavis leveraged his rapport with top RSS functionaries to secure grassroots support during the elections. This support played a crucial role in his selection as CM.
6. Modi’s blue-eyed boy
Fadnavis has long been considered a trusted ally of Prime Minister Modi, who handpicked him as CM in 2014. The slogan "Kendra Me Narendra, Maharashtra Me Devendra" became popular during his tenure. In 2017, speculation about his removal from the CM’s post was rife, but a meeting with Modi rescued him.
7. Loyalty to the party
Despite serving as CM twice, Fadnavis agreed to take a backseat as Deputy CM when the BJP returned to power in 2022. Although he initially announced that he would stay out of the government, a last-minute call from Modi convinced him to serve as Eknath Shinde’s deputy. This decision enhanced his image as a loyal party worker.
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