With union minister Nitin Gadkari failing to give any commitment to the 39 MLAs camping at Nagpur asking him to take up the job of Maharashtra chief minister, the state BJP president Devendra Fadnavis has once again emerged as the front-runner for the job.
While both Gadkari and Fadnavis belong to Vidharba and have close links with the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), the two represent different factions of the party.
With BJP unable to gain clear majority in the 288-member state legislature, it fell short by 22 seats, there’s speculation that party’s central leadership might want to pitch former BJP president Nitin Gadkari for the top job.
Gadkari enjoys good personal equations with the leaders in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which has pledged outside support to the BJP government. Sources in the party said Gadkari’s dilemma is that becoming the chief minister could mean bringing himself down from the high pedestal of central leadership.
The Nagpur MP is currently the member of the all-powerful Central Parliamentary Board and is considered a notch above the other party chief ministers.
Fadnavis, on the other hand, has decided to stay away from media over the issue. Gadkari too has decided to play it safe.
While both Gadkari and Fadnavis belong to Vidharba and have close links with the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), the two represent different factions of the party.
With BJP unable to gain clear majority in the 288-member state legislature, it fell short by 22 seats, there’s speculation that party’s central leadership might want to pitch former BJP president Nitin Gadkari for the top job.
Gadkari enjoys good personal equations with the leaders in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which has pledged outside support to the BJP government. Sources in the party said Gadkari’s dilemma is that becoming the chief minister could mean bringing himself down from the high pedestal of central leadership.
The Nagpur MP is currently the member of the all-powerful Central Parliamentary Board and is considered a notch above the other party chief ministers.
Fadnavis, on the other hand, has decided to stay away from media over the issue. Gadkari too has decided to play it safe.