Fadnavis is the state party president who has a clean image and has amiable relations with both the main factions of the party ‘“ one headed by Nitin Gadkari, another by late Gopinath Munde.
Amid all the speculations as to who will be the next Maharashtra CM, assured of win, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly informed party chief Amit Shah that he wants Devendra Fadnavis to be chosen for the job which has many contenders.
Fadnavis is the state party president who has a clean image and has amiable relations with both the main factions of the party – one headed by Nitin Gadkari, another by late Gopinath Munde.
The speculation was aired when DNA quoted a BJP leaders saying: “Earlier, many leaders including Vinod Tawade and Eknath Khadse were vying to be projected as the face for the coveted post. However, Modiji is very clear that he wants to give an opportunity to a young and studious face and Fadnavis fits in that role. He is not involved in any corruption or scam. He is a dynamic leader. Therefore, we slowly started putting his face along with Modiji’s in all television advertisements.”
The faction led by Munde is now being held by his daughter Pankaja who is trying to tighten her grasp by working hard and winning the consensus. She even told Indian Express in an interview that she would like to be BJP’s CM nominee and work along with Modi. However, the consensus that Fadnavis enjoys is hard to break into.
A senior BJP leader was quoted by the Hindustan Times: “Till Munde was alive, we always knew he would be our chief ministerial candidate. But, after his sudden death, Modi and Shah were looking for a credible and young face like Manohar Parrikar in Goa, and they zeroed in on Fadnavis.”
It should be noted that Fadnavis was a popular choice at election rallies as well. According to the Times of India, at a rally in Nagpur, party leaders were heard chanting: “Kendrat Narendra, Rajyat Devendra” (Modi at the Centre, Devendra in the state).
Fadnavis has emerged as a strategist who did well when it came to executing the task of ensuring BJP’s win in the Lok sabha elections in the state. Although party’s 25 year old alliance with Shiv Sena ended, Fadnavis may well be able to talk Sena into a post-poll alliance.
Frstpost reports, “At just 44, Fadnavis’ rise within the party has been quick. He began his political career in 1992, and was then twice elected as corporator to the Municipal Corporation of Nagpur — where he became the second youngest mayor in the country. An elected MLA since 1999, Fadnavis has also been president of the BJP Yuva Morcha, and has successfully leveraged his close association with ABVP, the youth wing of the BJP.
Considered to be a fierce critic of the Congress-NCP government that ruled the state for three consecutive terms, Fadnavis, who was made state party chief in April last year, is also close to the RSS, which is another plus in his favour.”
Meanwhile, there are other top contenders for the coveted post. They are Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, former state finance minister Eknath Khadse, and Opposition leader Vinod Tawde, not to forget Pankaja Munde who has appeared to be a mass leader.
The result will be out tomorrow and so will emerge the new CM for Maharashtra.
