Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to Continue Amidst Resignation Rumors

Amidst speculations of his resignation following the Lok Sabha election results in Maharashtra, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has declared that he will continue in his position. This decision came after a party meeting in which State BJP legislators expressed their trust in his leadership and encouraged him to stay on as their leader. Fadnavis mentioned that even senior party leader Amit Shah advised him to continue and affirmed that he has already initiated preparations for the upcoming Assembly election.

Fadnavis clarified that his initial offering to resign was not emotionally driven or due to disappointment over the electoral outcomes. He emphasized his commitment to not retreat but instead bounce back with strength, drawing inspiration from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He indicated that a false narrative circulating during the elections, including rumors about the BJP planning to alter the Constitution, served as an additional opposition force against the Mahayuti, contributing to its underperformance.

In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the Maha Vikas Aghadi secured 30 out of 48 seats in Maharashtra, with the ruling alliance winning 17 seats and an additional seat clinched by a rebel Congress candidate. Fadnavis attributed the electoral loss in part to the fake narratives that prevailed during the campaigning, impacting the ruling coalition’s performance.

Fadnavis highlighted that despite talk of sympathy towards Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, the party failed to secure seats in certain areas like Thane and Konkan. In Mumbai, he noted that Shiv Sena’s accomplishment resulted from the consolidation of votes from a specific community rather than broad Marathi-speaking voter support.

He mentioned that the BJP’s vote share remained steady compared to 2019, although the party lost 11 constituencies by narrow margins. Looking ahead, Fadnavis affirmed his dedication to continuing his role and asserted his strategic approach towards the upcoming challenges, emphasizing a resilient attitude in the face of adversity.