The onset of 2025 seems to have brought glad tidings for Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. As the tussle between the three partners of the ruling Mahayuti coalition – the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP – over the guardian minister posts continues, the praises for the CM seem to be flowing from the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) camp. Some close aides of Fadnavis admit that “it's not brickbats but bouquets which are now coming in for the CM from his known opponents”. A day after the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) took to in-house newspaper Saamana to praise Devabhau (Fadnavis), its alliance partner NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule on Saturday acknowledged the “sincerity” with which Fadnavis was helming the state government. Flagging Fadnavis's visit to Naxal-affected Gadchiroli on January 1, Sule said, “Devendra Fadnavis is in action mode from day one. It seems he is the only one who is working proactively. No other minister is active." Sule, the daughter of NCP(SP) chief Saharad Pawar, also said, “Former home minister and NCP leader late R R Patil had taken up the responsibility of Gadchiroli district. It is good to see Fadnavis is continuing the process of development in the district. He is the only one who is sincerely working." The NCP (SP) MP’s praise has come as a surprise to many within the BJP. “Fadnavis has always been the target of Sharad Pawar party since 2014. Its leaders never acknowledged Fadnavis’s role in administration in 2014-2019 and 2022-24. They always kept their attack focused on Fadnavis for everything," said a BJP leader, adding that against this backdrop “Sule's praise is a big surprise”. BJP insiders recalled how the NCP (SP) had targeted then deputy CM Fadnavis in the previous Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti government over the Badlapur sexual assault incident. Sule had then accused Fadnavis of being a “part-time home minister”, alleging that he was more busy in Delhi than addressing the Maharashtra affairs. After Sule's praise for Fadnavis, state BJP chief and revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said, “Everybody in Maharashtra knows the sincerity of CM. Those who have seen him as MLA to CM, vouch for him as the most hard-working and honest politician. Even his die-hard critics who publicly attack him are aware of his credibility and clean image. So, it's nice to hear our opponents coming out in open and acknowledging it. We welcome them.” In an editorial titled “Abhinandan Devabhau (Congratulations Devendra)”, Saamana said: “If the current CM (Fadnavis) wants to give Gadchiroli a new identity of a steel city instead of its reputation as a Naxalite district, it surely deserves applause. The CM’s good initiative should be praised.” Recently, Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav met Fadnavis during the winter session of the state Assembly. NCP, NCP (SP) equations Saamana’s praise for Fadnavis follows talks of reconciliation between the Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar factions of the NCP. On Wednesday, after NCP president Ajit Pawar’s mother Asha Pawar spoke of “unity of the Pawar family” as her New Year wish, other leaders on both sides said this would be more than welcome. Key Ajit aide Praful Patel even called Sharad Pawar the party’s “revered leader”. A BJP leader said: “There is a possibility that NCP and NCP (SP) may be working to end their differences. Whether they will merge and unite into one party or not remains to be seen.” A senior NCP leader, who has closely worked with Sharad Pawar, said, “In politics anything is possible. In elections you fight against each other. But after the elections, you cannot remain in a war zone. Once results are out, you accept and move ahead," adding that “The Opposition has to maintain cordial relations with the ruling side too.” The NCP leader also said, “Sule's gesture towards Fadnavis is welcome. Even Sharad Pawar never harbours enmity against anybody. There are plenty of instances where Pawar Senior invited PM Narendra Modi for a function related to agriculture sector or cooperatives.”
