New Delhi: It was in the last session of the Maharashtra assembly, just before the 2019 State elections, that Devendra Fadnavis declared, in Marathi, “Mee Punha Yein” (I will be back). This phrase became a rallying cry for his supporters and a point of mockery for his detractors when the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance broke up and the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government was formed later that year.
Now, as the BJP is set to surpass projections and break records in Maharashtra, the party is leading in 131 of the 149 seats it contested, according to the Election Commission’s latest trends. With the halfway mark at 145, the BJP appears poised to form the government.
मी पुन्हा येईन …..
नव महाराष्ट्राच्या निर्मितीसाठी!जय महाराष्ट्र 🚩🚩@Dev_Fadnavis pic.twitter.com/XtW9kylO2e
— भाजपा महाराष्ट्र (@BJP4Maharashtra) June 29, 2022
Fadnavis back as CM?
While the Eknath Shinde-led Sena faction is expected to win over 50 seats, the BJP may only need 10-12 additional seats to form a government independently. Even if the Shinde Sena exits the alliance, support from Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction could suffice. Interestingly, a poster declaring Ajit Pawar as Chief Minister was swiftly removed after senior leaders intervened, underscoring his alignment with Fadnavis.
In the past, Ajit Pawar’s support proved critical for the BJP. In 2014, the undivided NCP provided outside support when Shiv Sena refused to back the BJP. In 2019, Ajit Pawar briefly allied with Fadnavis during an early-morning swearing-in ceremony, though the government collapsed within 80 hours due to insufficient support from NCP legislators.
The MVA’s formation in 2019 was a personal and political setback for Fadnavis. Reports suggest that the mockery he faced then fuelled his resolve to bring the BJP back to power.
The man for all seasons
Despite internal dissent within the BJP regarding his leadership style, Fadnavis remained steadfast. Under his guidance, the party secured victories in subsequent MLC and Rajya Sabha elections, despite lacking numbers. In 2022, when Eknath Shinde rebelled against Uddhav Thackeray, Fadnavis played a pivotal role in forming the new government but accepted the deputy CM post after the BJP high command chose Shinde as CM.
Fadnavis’s political acumen shone again in 2023, when Ajit Pawar rebelled against Sharad Pawar and split the NCP. For Fadnavis, dismantling the MVA was not merely a political challenge but also a personal vendetta against the Shiv Sena and NCP.
A relentless leader
Fadnavis has worked tirelessly to strengthen the BJP’s base in Maharashtra, even during the COVID-19 pandemic and after the devastating floods in the state. His scathing critiques of the MVA’s governance, along with strategic use of bureaucratic influence, kept the coalition on the defensive. Issues like the Aarey Metro car shed, the Sachin Waze case, and allegations of an IPS transfer racket were used to undermine the MVA.
The Rise, Fall, and Rise again
Fadnavis’s political trajectory has been marked by resilience. His rise began in 2013 when he was appointed BJP state president despite opposition from party veterans. Becoming Maharashtra’s first Brahmin CM in decades, he led the BJP to successive electoral victories but faced setbacks in 2019 and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Despite these challenges, Fadnavis has proven his ability to rebound stronger after every fall. His leadership has transformed the BJP into Maharashtra’s largest political party for the third consecutive assembly election.
While the final decision rests with the BJP high command, Fadnavis has demonstrated that he is indispensable to the party’s success in Maharashtra. Elevating him to Chief Minister would solidify the BJP’s dominance and acknowledge his pivotal role in the party’s resurgence.
