Fadnavis to be Maharashtra CM, first from BJP in state
30 Oct 2014 5:27 AM IST
Soon after his selection as the leader of the BJP legislature party, state party office at Nariman Point witnessed massive celebration as jubilant BJP leaders were seen wearing masks of Fadnavis and raising slogans wishing him for more ‘achhe din (good time)’ in the financial capital of the country.
On Tuesday, all the newly elected BJP MLAs voted unanimously for Fadnavis at Vidhan Bhavan during a meeting attended by central observers, home minister Rajnath Singh and party general secretary JP Nadda. Senior state leader Eknath Khadse, who was also believed to be in the race, proposed Fadnavis’ name for the top job. The move was seconded by leaders like Sudhir Munganttiwar, Vinod Tawde and Pankaja Munde.
Around 6 pm on Tuesday, the party leaders met governor C Vidyasagar Rao at Raj Bhavan to stake claim to form the government. Fadnavis will be the second youngest Maharashtra chief minister - next only to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar - who was sworn in when he was 37-year-old. Not the least in a state dominated by Maratha politics and politicians, Fadnavis will be the second Brahmin to become CM. Shiv Sena’s Manohar Joshi had become chief minister in 1995 when Sena-BJP colaition government was formed.
While speaking to the media persons, Fadnavis credited the BJP’s performance in the assembly polls to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president Amit Shah and other colleagues. ‘It will be a government of people. We will follow the path shown by Modiji. I thank the party for picking me, though there were other eligible people,’ he said.
Fadnavis did not have a cake walk as 39 BJP legislators from the Vidarbha region had openly backed Union minister Nitin Gadkari for the top job. Three MLAs even offered to quit in order to pave the way for Gadkari to get elected.
The matter was sorted out after the intervention of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat who asked Gadkari to remain at the Centre, and Fadnavis to take the reins of the state. Later Fadnavis called on Gadkari at central minister’s residence in Nagpur during Diwali seeking his support.
Known to be a meticulous politician with a clean image, he has his roots in the RSS. The BJP CM-designate tore into the former Congress-NCP government during the election campaign, making the issue of corruption both a poll plank and an election promise.
Sources said, just seven BJP ministers will take oath on Friday in a function which will be attended by prime minister Narendra Modi. There is still no clarity yet on whether the BJP will join hands with the Shiv Sena to form the government or not. However, party-in-charge of Maharashtra, JP Nadda, said, ‘BJP wants to take Sena along.’
Sena had earlier softened its stand, which became clear after its mouthpiece, Saamna, said on Monday the party would support a BJP-led government as the party had got a mandate.
‘We will have to keep our political differences aside and work with the BJP chief minister for the unity of Maharashtra. We have kept ourselves together even in difficult circumstances and it will be better if it remains so,’ Saamna editorial reads.
On Tuesday, all the newly elected BJP MLAs voted unanimously for Fadnavis at Vidhan Bhavan during a meeting attended by central observers, home minister Rajnath Singh and party general secretary JP Nadda. Senior state leader Eknath Khadse, who was also believed to be in the race, proposed Fadnavis’ name for the top job. The move was seconded by leaders like Sudhir Munganttiwar, Vinod Tawde and Pankaja Munde.
Around 6 pm on Tuesday, the party leaders met governor C Vidyasagar Rao at Raj Bhavan to stake claim to form the government. Fadnavis will be the second youngest Maharashtra chief minister - next only to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar - who was sworn in when he was 37-year-old. Not the least in a state dominated by Maratha politics and politicians, Fadnavis will be the second Brahmin to become CM. Shiv Sena’s Manohar Joshi had become chief minister in 1995 when Sena-BJP colaition government was formed.
While speaking to the media persons, Fadnavis credited the BJP’s performance in the assembly polls to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president Amit Shah and other colleagues. ‘It will be a government of people. We will follow the path shown by Modiji. I thank the party for picking me, though there were other eligible people,’ he said.
Fadnavis did not have a cake walk as 39 BJP legislators from the Vidarbha region had openly backed Union minister Nitin Gadkari for the top job. Three MLAs even offered to quit in order to pave the way for Gadkari to get elected.
The matter was sorted out after the intervention of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat who asked Gadkari to remain at the Centre, and Fadnavis to take the reins of the state. Later Fadnavis called on Gadkari at central minister’s residence in Nagpur during Diwali seeking his support.
Known to be a meticulous politician with a clean image, he has his roots in the RSS. The BJP CM-designate tore into the former Congress-NCP government during the election campaign, making the issue of corruption both a poll plank and an election promise.
Sources said, just seven BJP ministers will take oath on Friday in a function which will be attended by prime minister Narendra Modi. There is still no clarity yet on whether the BJP will join hands with the Shiv Sena to form the government or not. However, party-in-charge of Maharashtra, JP Nadda, said, ‘BJP wants to take Sena along.’
Sena had earlier softened its stand, which became clear after its mouthpiece, Saamna, said on Monday the party would support a BJP-led government as the party had got a mandate.
‘We will have to keep our political differences aside and work with the BJP chief minister for the unity of Maharashtra. We have kept ourselves together even in difficult circumstances and it will be better if it remains so,’ Saamna editorial reads.
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