Fadnavis to lead BJP’s 40-member star campaigner list for Maharashtra local body polls

While the campaign will revolve around Fadnavis, considered the party’s most sought-after leader in Maharashtra, other prominent figures in the list include Vinod Tawde, who has transitioned from state to national politics, and Sudhir Mungantiwar, a former minister who has made a comeback in the campaign team.

All Union ministers representing Maharashtra such as Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, and MoS Murlidhar Mohol are part of the list, along with state BJP president Ravindra Chavan, joint general secretary Shiv Prakash, and former chief ministers Ashok Chavan and Narayan Rane.

Several senior state cabinet ministers have also been named, including Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Ashish Shelar, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Pankaja Munde, Girish Mahajan, Jaykumar Rawal, Nitesh Rane, Atul Save, Ashok Uike, and Shivendraraje Bhosale. The inclusion of Idris Multani, in charge of the BJP’s minorities cell, signals the party’s attempt to reach out to Muslim voters.

State BJP media cell in-charge Navnath Ban said, “The BJP believes every single election is important. From the CM to union and state ministers and leaders, everyone puts their hundred per cent into the campaign.” He added that whether it is Lok Sabha, Assembly, or local body elections, the party contests each with “the same seriousness and effort,” which explains the extensive list of star campaigners aimed at maximising outreach across districts and talukas.