BJP alone can’t win, but will be single-largest party: Fadnavis

While pointing to the ground reality with three-party alliances on each side, Fadnavis said, “The BJP alone cannot win the state but will become the single largest party with highest votes and seats. With Shiv Sena led by CM Eknath Shinde and NCP led by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, we will jointly form the Mahayuti government.”

“Generally, I don’t like to predict the number of seats. But I must state that Mahayuti will have an edge in state. We will be able to get comfortable majority to form the government, he said.

“I feel sad to see many aspirants denied tickets. But then in pre-poll alliance, we have to make adjustments. One cannot say we want other parties’ votes, but cannot accommodate their candidates….” he said.

“It is like there are many movies being made with many directors. And aspiring actors getting the role of a lead actor,” he said in a lighter vein.

Drawing a parallel with Lok Sabha polls in which BJP suffered a setback, he said, “The MVA’s road to success was on false narratives. The threat to Constitution, drought/climatic challenges adversely hit farmers. All these factors went against the ruling parties in the government,” he said. Now the situation has changed.

The BJP has declared candidates for 121 of the 288 constituencies in the state so far.

Fadnavis expressed confidence that the BJP would form the government with the help of Shiv Sena, NCP and the Republican Party of India.

He also said Maharashtra witnessed “vote-jihad” for the first time during the Lok Sabha polls, thus implying consolidation of Muslim votes which went against Mahayuti which won only 17 of 48 seats.