Wedding Brings Devendra Fadnavis to Delhi, Not Political Talks

Devendra Fadnavis clarifies that his quick trip to the national capital is solely for attending a family wedding, dispelling rumors of political discussions.

P24 News Media

November 26, 2024

1 minute

Wedding Brings Devendra Fadnavis to Delhi, Not Political Talks

India

In a surprising twist, Devendra Fadnavis, widely regarded as the prime contender for Maharashtra's Chief Minister role, was spotted in New Delhi this evening, prompting speculation regarding potential discussions with central leadership about the state's political future. However, Fadnavis swiftly tempered these expectations by clarifying that his visit is purely for the wedding of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's daughter. This revelation comes just two days after the results of the Maharashtra assembly elections were announced, leaving the question of the state’s next Chief Minister tantalizingly unanswered.

Despite Fadnavis's prominent position in the race for the Chief Minister's office, his ally, the Shiv Sena, is advocating for the continuation of Eknath Shinde in the leadership role. Off-the-record commentary from various leaders suggests that Shinde has earned the position based on the success of his government's welfare initiatives that significantly contributed to the ruling alliance's substantial victory.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Naresh Mhaske referenced the "Bihar model" as justification for Shinde's continued premiership. He pointed out that in Bihar, Nitish Kumar has remained Chief Minister even when the BJP outperformed his party in the last assembly election. "We believe Mr. Shinde should remain Chief Minister, similarly to how the BJP supported JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar,” he remarked. Mhaske emphasized that the senior leaders within the Mahayuti coalition will ultimately reach a decision on this matter.

During a recent meeting of Shiv Sena MLAs, there were calls for Shinde to retain his position as Chief Minister, reinforcing the party's support for his leadership. On the other hand, sources indicate that the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) might back Fadnavis for the Chief Minister role, potentially tipping the balance in favor of the BJP.

Since the election results were declared, leaders from all three parties within the ruling alliance have indicated their intent to convene and deliberate on the Chief Ministership. At a light-hearted post-election press conference, Fadnavis joked about involving all allies in discussions, even including Ramdas Athawale, the leader of the Republican Party of India-Athawale, who contested a single seat under the BJP’s banner but unfortunately lost.

Under Fadnavis's leadership, the BJP has achieved a historic milestone, securing 132 seats—the highest ever for the party—while the Shiv Sena faction led by Shinde earned 57 seats. Additionally, Ajit Pawar’s faction of the NCP obtained 41 seats, leading the ruling coalition Mahayuti to an impressive total of 230 seats out of the 288 available in the Maharashtra assembly.