Decisive leadership | BJP's makeover for Fadnavis as Maharashtra polls approach

Taking a leaf from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign of strong, decisive leadership, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) aims to replicate a similar approach for Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, in the upcoming state Assembly polls.

With nearly two weeks left before voting, the BJP is planning a campaign centered around decisive leadership and good governance. Using multimedia techniques, the BJP has organised a series of podcast interviews for the election.

Image makeover

During a podcast with BJP leader Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Fadnavis revealed that it was his insistence that led public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, who handled the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case, to secure an online deposition from Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) terrorist David Headley from the US prison. The BJP leadership hopes Fadnavis' revelations will enhance his image as a strong, decisive leader and highlight the impact of timely state decisions.

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“The people should know the truth. It is the right of the people of Mumbai and Maharashtra to understand what happened during the Mumbai terror attacks and how India established Pakistan's role. This was possible because of Fadnavis’ decisive leadership in urging Nikam to bring Headley’s deposition before the court in India. Given Mumbai's status as India’s financial capital, security is paramount, and only decisive leadership can bring impactful change in governance,” a senior BJP leader from Maharashtra told The Federal.

Ahead of the state polls, the podcast series, primarily in Marathi, has also featured former Union Minister Smriti Irani, who is closely associated with the Mumbai BJP. Titled "Nakki Kay Challay," meaning "What is happening," the podcast seeks to engage and educate voters. “In today’s politics, where voter education is rare, podcasting offers a platform to share information often overlooked by mainstream media,” Sahasrabuddhe told The Federal.

Tussle for CM's post

While the BJP is positioning Fadnavis as Maharashtra's strong, decisive leader, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has opted not to announce a chief ministerial candidate. The BJP’s initial focus is on winning the election; the decision on Maharashtra's next chief minister will come later.

“Who says we don’t have a chief ministerial face for the Maharashtra elections? The Assembly elections are being fought under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s leadership. As the sitting CM, he is actively campaigning across the state,” Shiv Sena (Shinde) MP Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne told The Federal.

Although the NDA hasn’t formally named a candidate, Shiv Sena (Shinde) maintains that Shinde will continue as the chief minister if the alliance wins. However, senior BJP leaders believe the post should go to the BJP, as it’s the largest party in the NDA and is contesting the most seats.

According to NDA’s seat-sharing arrangement in Maharashtra, the BJP is contesting 148 Assembly seats, Shiv Sena (Shinde) 82, and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP 53 seats. The remaining five seats in the 288-member Assembly will go to smaller NDA allies.

Also read: Fadnavis a 'Maratha hater', govt operates as per his wishes: Jarange

Choosing Maharashtra’s next chief minister may be a challenge for the NDA, as Shinde is the incumbent, Fadnavis is the BJP’s senior-most leader in the state, and Ajit Pawar is also vying for the top position after serving as the deputy chief minister.

BJP needs regional party support

Political analysts suggest that despite the BJP’s dominant position, it needs support of regional parties to form the government.

“The choice of Maharashtra's next chief minister will be tough. Although the BJP leads the NDA, it requires the backing of Shiv Sena (Shinde) and NCP (Ajit Pawar). This election will be a test for the BJP in Maharashtra politics and for Shiv Sena (Shinde) and Ajit Pawar-led NCP to show which faction has emerged stronger after the split in their respective parties. The NCP led by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar is the weakest link in the NDA,” said Amit Dholakia, political science professor at Maharaja Sayajirao University in Vadodara.