Fadnavis & his 'big brother' problem: 5 big challenges for BJP's top strategist in Maharashtra

Devendra Fadnavis

The BJP leadership has appointed Devendra Fadnavis as its navigator for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, briefly putting to rest speculation that he is being sent to Delhi to become the next party chief. However, Fadnavis, who is also the deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, must confront numerous challenges emanating from his party, the Mahayuti alliance, and the opposition in the run-up to the polls.

1. The Maratha factor: Manoj Jarange Patil, a Maratha reservation activist, has trained his guns on the BJP, especially Devendra Fadnavis. He has instructed his workers to ensure the defeat of BJP candidates. The impact of the Maratha agitation led to BJP's losses in Marathwada and Western Maharashtra, lowering its overall tally in the state. It will be interesting to see what strategy Fadnavis devises to deal with the Maratha challenge.

2. Keeping the party intact: Before the 2019 assembly elections, many opposition leaders joined the BJP as the party appeared to be on a strong footing. However, the last Lok Sabha results have raised questions about BJP's return to power. A recent survey conducted by an opposition party reveals that the MVA is likely to win more seats than required for a majority. It is now up to Fadnavis to maintain the morale of party leaders and cadres and prevent defections.

3. Remaining the "Big Brother" in the alliance: If the BJP wants to reclaim the CM's post, it needs to win the highest number of seats in the alliance. To achieve this, the party must fight for a greater number of seats than the other constituents of the alliance. However, other alliance partners like Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar also have ambitions. Ajit Pawar has never hesitated to accept that he is eyeing the CM's post. Shinde too wants to return as CM. Fadnavis must find a way to navigate this clash of ambitions.

4. Maintaining the Mahayuti impact: Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena was not comfortable when Ajit Pawar, along with his loyal MLAs, rebelled from the NCP and joined the Mahayuti government. Shinde and Pawar had a bitter relationship when they were part of the MVA government. Shinde loyalists alleged that Ajit Pawar, as finance minister, distributed funds in a skewed manner. The bitterness between the two parties has not faded away in the new government, and news of frictions between members of the two parties is often reported.

5. Placating the farmers: One of the prime causes of Mahayuti's defeat in the Lok Sabha polls was the ire of farmers, especially in North Maharashtra and Vidarbha region. The ban on onion exports enraged farmers, hitting their income. The drought added insult to injury. Now, the BJP is trying to adopt a peasant-friendly approach. The "CM Ladki Bahin Yojana," which promises a monthly payout to women, is primarily aimed at wooing women voters.

The assembly election results will be a turning point in Fadnavis' political trajectory. Whether he remains in state politics or moves to the center depends on the BJP's electoral performance.