Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, leading the BJP's campaign for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, dismissed any notion of rivalry among Mahayuti partners over the chief ministerial position.
Fadnavis asserted that the Mahayuti alliance—which includes the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP—will form the government, with the decision on the next chief minister to be made collaboratively by the BJP leadership, Shiv Sena’s Chief Leader Eknath Shinde, and NCP’s National President Ajit Pawar.
Fadnavis clarified that, for now, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde leads the alliance in the Assembly elections. He emphasised that the alliance is unified, with no internal competition regarding the chief minister’s role.
“We have received strong support from across Maharashtra,” Fadnavis stated, emphasising that this confidence stems from the Mahayuti’s development initiatives and welfare schemes introduced over the past two and a half years.
The Deputy Chief Minister compared the current administration's achievements with the former Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, claiming that the public’s positive response is a reflection of trust in the Mahayuti’s leadership.
Fadnavis began his statewide rallies on Tuesday to garner support, joined by Shinde, Ajit Pawar, and other leaders in Kolhapur to launch the Mahayuti’s election campaign.
In response to criticisms from the MVA—an alliance between the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (SP)—over welfare programs such as the Ladki Bahin Yojana, Fadnavis defended the Mahayuti’s commitment to sustaining these initiatives.
The Opposition, he claimed, has suggested that schemes like the Ladki Bahin Yojana would be discontinued post-election, with some even challenging the initiative in court.
However, Fadnavis dismissed these concerns, arguing that if such schemes are budgeted for, they will indeed be funded, countering the Opposition’s claims about their sustainability.
Fadnavis also addressed accusations from the MVA regarding Maharashtra's economic contribution under the Mahayuti government. He contended that Maharashtra’s development had suffered during the MVA’s tenure, whereas the Mahayuti government has contributed significantly to the state’s GDP. The Deputy Chief Minister criticised the Opposition for allegedly using “incomplete information” to create a misleading narrative.
Highlighting Maharashtra’s investment appeal, Fadnavis asserted that the state continues to attract over 52% of India’s total investments, refuting claims by the Opposition that investments have shifted to Gujarat.
He argued that the purported “flight of investment” to Gujarat occurred during the MVA’s tenure, while Maharashtra’s investment influx has surged under the Mahayuti administration.
Fadnavis urged the Opposition to verify their facts before making allegations, asserting that under the Mahayuti’s leadership, Maharashtra has secured its position as a top investment destination in India.
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