On Tuesday, Devendra Fadnavis, a four-term BJP legislator and RSS worker, was elected as the leader of the BJP Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. On Friday, he will become the State’s first BJP Chief Minister. A landmark event in the history of the BJP, the party has staked claim for the first time in the State.
Between 1995 and 1999, though the BJP tasted power in Maharashtra, it was a junior partner to the Shiv Sena, which had a greater number of seats.
In those four years, the BJP had a marginal say in the process of governance. However, today, with 121 MLAs, the party needs only 23 MLAs from the Shiv Sena to form a stable Government in the State.
On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over a swearing in ceremony at Wankhede Stadium for Fadnavis and nine Cabinet ministers. At 44, Fadnavis would be Maharashtra's second youngest Chief Minister, after Sharad Pawar, who occupied the chair at 38. Sources indicated that though Fadnavis has always been the party favourite given his RSS background, Eknath Khadse, a veteran leader from northern Maharashtra with over 20 years of legislative experience, was also aspiring for the top job.
A party source said that though Khadse was miffed by Fadnavis’ selection, being a loyal party worker he would follow the orders from Delhi.
He is likely to be awarded a plum post in the new Cabinet.
“There are many people in the Maharashtra BJP who are capable of taking responsibility of the chief minister’s position, and yet the party chose me,” Fadnavis told media persons after emerging from a meeting with party MLAs.
Political analyst Nagesh Kesari told BusinessLine that with the BJP agreeing to share power with the Shiv Sena, the State would get a stable government.