The speculation about Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis joining the Union government is dominating discussions in the corridors of power in Maharashtra. A few news agencies too reported that Fadnavis has been called to Delhi to join the Union ministry to take charge of the defence ministry. Arun Jaitley, handling the important finance ministry, is presently burdened with the additional charge of defence after Manohar Parrikar vacated the post to return to Goa in February, 2017. There are also rumours that Chandrakant Patil, a close confidante of BJP national president Amit Shah, will replace Fadnavis as Maharashtra chief minister if the latter opt to go to Delhi.
Speculations about Fadnavis going to Delhi have been going on ever since Parrikar resigned from the Union ministry to become the chief minister of Goa.
Former chief minister Narayan Rane is likely to join the BJP soon and will mostly be given the important PWD ministry, presently held by Chandrakant Patil.
However, Santosh Pradhan, a senior journalist said, “ Fadnavis won't be called to Delhi. Right now, he is the only BJP leader who can win the elections for the BJP. No one else has that potential. A big state like Maharashtra is very important in the larger plan of BJP.” He added that the BJP's national leadership is not sure of repeating the performance of 2014 in UP, MP, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
“The BJP is planning to compensate that loss in other bigger state like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra and Karnataka. Be it forming an alliance with other parties or increasing its own numbers, BJP can't take chance of shifting Fadanvis to Delhi before 2019 Parliament elections,” Pradhan said.
The BJP government in the state is presently facing the major issue of delivering the promised loan waiver to 40 lakh farmers. The senior leaders also expect some resistance from its own second and third rank cadre especially after Rane and his sons join the party. Eknath Khadse, a senior leader, is already angry and disillusioned with the kind of treatment meted out to him especially when almost 15 other ministers are facing allegations of corruption. Sachin Sawant, Congress spokesperson said, “Khadse was singled out and was asked to resign when allegations were levelled against him. Other ministers like Pankaja Munde, Vinod Tawde, Prakash Mehta, Jaykumar Rawal and Subhash Desai have far more and bigger allegations to their credit. They are not facing even a judicial inquiry.”
Despite of all these issues and Shiv Sena not losing a single opportunity to throw spanners in the government functioning, Fadnavis remains to be the only leader with state wide appeal. Pradhan said, “He has proved himself to be a victory snatcher. He has mastered the art of using coercive power and skill of managing elections.”
Fadnavis, while addressing BJP office bearers and party workers on August 17, said, “I am not going to Delhi till 2019. Raosaheb Danve and I will continue to deliver our responsibilities as state party president and chief minister for two more years.” This was expected to stop the speculations but BJP's victory in the Mira-Bhayander municipal elections have further fueled the rumours.
