The central leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has again urged Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to continue in the Maharashtra government and also work for the organisation in the upcoming state Assembly elections, ending speculations over his offer to resign. The decision was taken at a core committee meeting in Delhi on Tuesday. Highly placed sources in the central BJP told The Indian Express, “The top brass of the BJP has once again conveyed to Fadnavis to continue in the government. Along with his government duties, he has been asked to carry out the organisational work for the party, which is heading for the crucial Assembly polls in Maharashtra.” The Lok Sabha election results were reviewed at the core committee meeting, presided by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in which the BJP clinically presented region wise reasons behind the failure. It underlined the factor that the party had not gained electorally from its alliance with Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and Ajit Pawar-led NCP. The alliance vote share did not transfer to BJP candidates but, on the contrary, BJP vote share helped both Shinde and Pawar, leaders noted. The BJP won nine seats out of 28 contested, which was its worse performance in Maharashtra, with Shinde Sena winning and Ajit NCP one seat. The total tally was only 17 out of 48, while the MVA won 30 seats. BJP state and central leaders, including newly appointed Maharashtra poll incharge Bhupender Yadav, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Piyush Goyal, state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, national BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde, national secretary Pankaja Munde and Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar were present at the meeting along with Fadnavis. Aftere the three-hour meeting, Fadnavis told the media, “We had a detailed discussion on the Lok Sabha election results. The difference between Mahayuti and Maha Vikas Aghadi was just 0.3 per cent. We deliberated on reasons along with course corrections. We also discussed the blueprint for the Assembly polls and will hold further discussions with our partners.” Responding to the question on organisational changes, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said, “There will be no change.” The developments indicate that the party’s central leadership is not willing to absolve Fadnavis from administrative role in the Mahayuti government, which is a coalition of the BJP, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) and NCP (Ajit Pawar faction). Instead, it insisted that Fadnavis with his administrative abilities and experience as former CM (2014-2019) was required in the government ahead of the assembly elections. According to a core committee member, “Leaders believe that in the election year, the state government is crucial for the enforcement of important policies. Therefore, any changes at this juncture would be unsettling.” However, he said that the central and state governments would work to build a robust team that would collectively shoulder the responsibilities for the assembly polls. The details on organisational roles will be decided in the coming days, according to him. Emphasising the need for mobilising the cadre, BJP leaders stressed on tackling fissures within the coalition partners. Other issues that were discussed included mending fences with the RSS, tackling agriculture crisis, caste polarisation Maratha versus OBCs and Dalit/Muslim issues. A day after the Lok Sabha election results, Fadnavis took the responsibilities for the party’s failure in Maharashtra and said in a media interaction in Mumbai, “Since I was leading the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra, I take the entire responsibility for the defeat of the party. I have taken the decision to step down from the government. I wish to devote my time for organisational work.” Fadnavis also underlined that he would convey his decisions to central leadership of the party and consent. Taken aback by the sudden resignation offer, Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a phone conversation with Fadnavis, which was followed by at least three meetings between the two leaders. Shah urged Fadnavis to continue in the government at least twice. According to Bawankule, displayed his leadership by taking the responsibility. “But consensus in the organisation is that he is wanted in government as well as organisation,” said Bawankule.
