MUMBAI: Devendra Fadnavis, the political stalwart who rose from humble beginnings to change into a key determine in Maharashtra politics, was on Thursday night sworn in as chief minister — a place he has held twice earlier than. “Mi Punha Ye-in (I can be again),” he had famously mentioned on the finish of his first tenure within the high put up in 2019. His detractors mocked him over the decision when he needed to sit within the opposition subsequently; however the BJP chief had the final chuckle. The 54-year-old chief, whose profession has been marked by a mix of resilience and strategic manoeuvring, would lead the state for the third time following a decisive exhibiting of the BJP within the November 20 meeting polls.
Fadnavis’ political journey has been nothing in need of exceptional. From serving as an obscure corporator to changing into the youngest mayor of Nagpur, he has strengthened his standing as a outstanding chief inside his celebration. Notably, he’s solely the second Brahmin to function Chief Minister of Maharashtra, following the Shiv Sena’s Manohar Joshi. His ascent started in earnest forward of the 2014 meeting elections, the place he garnered vital assist from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior BJP chief Amit Shah.
Modi famously referred to him as “Nagpur’s reward to the nation” throughout a marketing campaign rally. Although Modi had launched a marketing campaign blitzkrieg within the 2014 Lok Sabha and Maharashtra meeting polls, a portion of the credit score additionally went to Fadnavis, then state BJP president, for the celebration’s success. Son of Jan Sangh and later BJP chief late Gangadhar Fadnavis, whom his fellow Nagpur politician Nitin Gadkari calls his “political guru”, Devendra lower his enamel in politics at a younger age when he joined Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad, college students wing of RSS, in 1989. At 22, he grew to become a corporator within the Nagpur civic physique and its youngest Mayor in 1997 at age 27.
Fadnavis contested his first meeting election in 1999 and gained. There was no trying again for him as he gained three subsequent meeting elections. He retained his Nagpur South West seat comfortably within the final month’s election. Not like many different leaders in Maharashtra, Fadnavis has remained untainted by accusations of corruption. Among the many most articulate Maharashtra politicians, he’s additionally credited with pushing the earlier Congress-NCP authorities right into a nook over the alleged irrigation rip-off.
Fadnavis skilled a setback within the aftermath of the 2019 meeting elections as then united Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray pulled out of the pre-poll alliance over the CM’s put up, shattering the BJP chief’s `I’ll come again once more’ slogan. Fadnavis was sworn in because the chief minister for the second time on November 23, 2019, and Ajit Pawar was sworn in because the deputy chief minister. Nevertheless, earlier than a Supreme Courtroom-ordered no confidence movement may happen, Fadnavis stop on November 26, three days after taking oath because the CM.
Uddhav Thackeray, propped up by Sharad Pawar-led NCP, later grew to become the CM, however stop after senior Sena chief Eknath Shinde cut up the celebration in June 2022 and later grew to become the CM. After Thackeray demitted workplace following the large-scale desertions within the Sena, many political observers thought that Fadnavis, who they knew was behind the episode, would change into the CM.
Nevertheless, the BJP management had different plans and a reluctant Fadnavis was requested to occupy the deputy CM’s put up. His tenure within the final two-and-a-half years as Deputy Chief Minister noticed a marked resurgence, and the meeting elections outcomes of November 23 got here because the much-awaited cherry on the cake. Although he hails from a politically energetic household, his father and aunt each served within the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Fadnavis has crafted his personal distinct political identification.
Fadnavis’ first tenure because the CM was characterised by a mix of fine governance and efficient political manoeuvring. He earned reward for his push to expedite infrastructure tasks, gaining favour notably amongst city voters. Nevertheless, his time period was not with out challenges. The state suffered vital crop losses on account of erratic climate, and his preliminary rejection of mortgage waiver for affected farmers sparked widespread protests. One other main situation throughout his tenure was the Maratha neighborhood’s demand for reservations. Although he handed laws to fulfill these calls for, the following Supreme Courtroom ruling that overturned the legislation left many within the Maratha neighborhood dissatisfied, blaming Fadnavis for the failure. The 2019 meeting elections marked a dramatic shift in Fadnavis’ political trajectory.
The Shiv Sena’s refusal to affix the federal government except it shared the Chief Minister’s put up led Fadnavis to hunt an alternate alliance with the Nationalist Congress Occasion (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar. This authorities, nonetheless, was short-lived, collapsing after simply 72 hours. Fadnavis then assumed the function of Chief of the Opposition. In June 2022, following a rebel throughout the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, Fadnavis was instructed by the BJP management to return to the federal government as Deputy CM beneath Shinde. Though initially reluctant, Fadnavis accepted the function, signalling his loyalty to the celebration management.
Even after a major loss within the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he performed a pivotal function in shaping the seat-sharing association between the BJP and Shinde’s faction. Fadnavis’ profession has, up to now, been outlined by resilience, adaptability and strategic perception. His potential to adapt and make tactical choices may show essential for him and his celebration within the coming days.
