It has been confirmed that Devendra Fadnavis will take over as the next Chief Minister of Maharashtra. According to senior BJP leaders, Devendra Fadnavis has been selected to lead the state’s government, with a formal meeting of the BJP legislature party scheduled for either December 2 or 3, 2024.
Devendra Fadnavis’ appointment comes after a decisive victory for the BJP in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, where the party won 132 seats, making it the largest political force in the state. Despite the electoral success, the process of forming a government has taken longer than expected due to ongoing discussions within the BJP-led Maha Yuti alliance.
Outgoing Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has expressed his full support for Devendra Fadnavis’ leadership, assuring that he will stand by the party’s decision. The swearing-in ceremony for the new government is set for December 5 at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to attend the event.
As the BJP prepares for the swearing-in ceremony, some tensions remain within the Maha Yuti coalition. Leaders from the alliance’s other parties, including the Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), have expressed differing views on the election results and the allocation of seats.
Despite these differences, the BJP is moving forward cautiously, keen to maintain unity within the alliance and ensure a smooth transition of power. The exact composition of the new cabinet will be decided in the coming days, but it is expected that only Devendra Fadnavis and a few key ministers will take the oath on December 5.
Devendra Fadnavis’ return to the Chief Minister’s office marks a significant moment in Maharashtra’s political landscape. As one of the BJP’s most prominent leaders in the state, he is expected to play a crucial role in steering Maharashtra through its next phase of governance.
Political Struggle of Devendra Fadnavis
Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis finds himself in a tough spot. A response from the office of Nagpur’s police commissioner to an RTI query by Mumbai-based activist Ajay Bose has revealed an alarming number of crimes against women reported between January and August 2024.
Nagpur recorded 213 rape cases and 320 harassment complaints against women during this period. The actual figures are likely higher, as many cases go unreported. Notably, Nagpur is Fadnavis’ hometown and constituency, as well as the headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Adding to the controversy, Akshay Shinde, the main accused in the Badlapur case involving the sexual assault of two four-year-old girls, was killed in police custody on September 23. Officials claim Shinde was shot in “self-defense” while being escorted from court.
Public sentiment, however, leans toward suspicion that Shinde’s death was orchestrated to shield local BJP leaders linked to the school where the incident occurred. Shinde had previously worked on the farm of one of the school’s promoters, a connection that hasn’t gone unnoticed. BJP functionaries Tushar Apte and Uday Kotwal, also implicated, remain at large.
Asim Sarode, the lawyer for the victims, condemned Shinde’s death as a “killing of justice.” Meanwhile, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Fadnavis have dismissed the backlash, with responses that implied Shinde’s death was justified, given the public demand for his execution.
The political fallout has been severe for Fadnavis, whose standing within the BJP appears to be weakening. Once seen as a potential successor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi or the next BJP national president, his ability to lead the party through the upcoming assembly elections is now under scrutiny.
Former Union Minister Raosaheb Danve has been named the BJP’s election coordinator, while senior RSS leader Atul Limaye has been tasked with bridging coordination between the Sangh and the party. These developments suggest a deliberate move to sideline Devendra Fadnavis. Despite his offer to resign in June following the party’s poor performance, Fadnavis was persuaded to stay, with promises of significant oversight in the election process.
Devendra Fadnavis, once instrumental in forming the BJP government post-2019, is now overshadowed by Eknath Shinde, who has grown more assertive as Chief Minister. Shinde’s increasing popularity—particularly among his supporters—stands in stark contrast to the challenges Fadnavis faces in reclaiming his political ground.
