Devendra Fadnavis Reacts to Mahayuti’s Landslide Win: ‘Beyond Our Expectations

As the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance heads for a landslide victory in Maharashtra with nearly a two-thirds majority, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis expressed his astonishment at the results.

Speaking to ABP News, Fadnavis stated, “None of us expected this. It’s beyond our expectations.” He revealed that representatives from the three alliance parties would convene shortly to plan the next steps. “We will hold a press conference and visit the party office,” he added.

Decision on the Chief Minister

Addressing the question of the next chief minister, Fadnavis emphasized that the decision would be made collectively by the Mahayuti’s leaders. “The next CM will be decided with all three parties sitting together,” he stated.

While there has been speculation about Fadnavis’s return as CM, he downplayed any contention over the role, reiterating that the final decision would be taken collaboratively.

As of noon, Mahayuti was leading in 224 assembly seats, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (Sharad Pawar) lagged far behind, leading in just 53 seats.

Other parties were ahead in 11 constituencies. This result cements the BJP’s dominance in Maharashtra and underscores public support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

Fadnavis’s ‘Chakravyuh’ Remark

Following the victory, Fadnavis made a striking comment, likening himself to a modern-day Abhimanyu who successfully navigated the ‘chakravyuh’ (a complex trap) set by the opposition.

“The opposition’s efforts to propagate a fake narrative and polarize voters based on religion were foiled by the masses,” he said. He credited voters, the BJP team, and party leaders for their support in breaking the opposition’s strategies.

Fadnavis also thanked women voters, who played a significant role in Mahayuti’s success. He highlighted the rejection of divisive politics by the electorate, indicating a strong mandate for development and stability.

Addressing Allegations on EVMs

In response to Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut’s allegations about electronic voting machines (EVMs), Fadnavis dismissed the claims as baseless. “When the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (a Congress ally) wins elections, EVMs are tamper-proof, but they are supposedly vulnerable in Maharashtra.

The opposition should stop making such claims. I am not big enough to advise them, but they need to introspect,” he said.

Fadnavis’s remarks came amid growing criticism from the opposition, which has been struggling to explain its poor performance in the elections.

He urged opposition leaders to focus on understanding the reasons behind their defeat rather than blaming the electoral process.

Speculations About the Chief Minister

As counting continued, BJP spokesperson Pravin Darekar expressed confidence that Fadnavis would become the next chief minister. “This result has taken us by surprise.

We knew we would win but never expected such an overwhelming result. I think Devendra Fadnavis will be the chief minister,” Darekar said in Mumbai.

However, Shiv Sena spokesperson Sheetal Mhatre stated that Mahayuti leaders would collectively decide on the CM. “We think Eknath Shinde should remain the chief minister,” she remarked, reflecting ongoing discussions within the alliance.

BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhaye also weighed in, stating, “Election results are coming in. The Mahayuti is clearly leading. This vote is for development. If BJP workers think so, Fadnavis should be the CM, and there is nothing wrong with it. After all, Mahayuti leaders will take the decision.”

The Road Ahead

The BJP’s performance in the 2024 assembly elections marks a significant improvement from 2019 when the party won 105 seats. Following the Shiv Sena’s split in 2022, the BJP appointed Eknath Shinde as chief minister, with Fadnavis serving as deputy chief minister.

As the alliance now faces the task of selecting its leader, the results indicate overwhelming public support for the BJP’s leadership and vision.

Fadnavis’s comments and the Mahayuti’s decisive victory signal a new chapter in Maharashtra’s political landscape, with voters endorsing development and rejecting divisive politics.

The coming days will reveal how the alliance consolidates its power and delivers on its promises to the people of Maharashtra.