RSS leaders hold detailed meeting with Fadnavis day after he announced to step down

With the Annual Sangha Shiksha Varg (summer training camp) of RSS currently underway in Nagpur, all top functionaries of the right wing organisation have assembled at the RSS headquarters in Fadnavis’s home turf.

The meeting assumes significance in the wake of 2024 Lok Sabha polls, where BJP failed to achieve its target for Maharashtra. The BJP had set a target of winning 45 seats along with its allies from Maharashtra. The party won only nine out of the 28 seats it contested in Maharashtra. Narendra Modi was projected as the face of the party across the country  and he had conducted 19 rallies across the state over the five phases of polls in Mahrashtra between April 19 and May 20.

Following a dismal performance, Fadnavis, who held 116 rallies across 48 constituencies in the state, took up the moral responsibility for the defeat.

On Wednesday, after the state core committee meeting in Mumbai, Fadnavis took everybody by surprise when he announced, “I will urge the top party leadership at the Centre to absolve me from duties in government…I wish to devote myself entirely to organisational work.”

It has been learnt that hours after Fadnavis expressed his desire through a press conference, Union Home minister Amit Shah had a telephonic conversation with Fadnavis late Wednesday night. A top source confirmed that Shah listened to Fadnavis’s concerns and is told him that he will meet him in person and have a detailed discussion on state matters.

Fadnavis holds key home portfolio in Maharashtra and his expression of thoughts on Wednesday took everybody by surprise. Leaders from the Mahayuti, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, requested him not to resign from the government and said he would speak to him.

Late Thursday evening, Fadnavis left for Delhi where he is likely to hold deliberations with central leaders. He will also attend BJP’s parliamentary board meeting convened by J P Nadda on Friday.

A close aide of Fadnavis said, “Fadnavis’ decision to resign from government should not be perceived as a protest or pressure tactic. On the contrary, he has taken the responsibility for the party’s performance in the Lok Sabha polls. With assembly polls ahead in October, Fadnavis wants to take up the biggest political challenge…With Maha Vikas Aghadi collectively winning 30 out of the 48 seats in Maharashtra, they are going to assembly polls with renewed zeal. The Mahayuti, which collectively won 17 seats, reckons that the going would be tough and considering the scenario, Fadnavis wants to refurbish the image of the party and its electoral fortunes for the assembly polls.”