Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has expressed his desire to step down from his position, taking responsibility for the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) disappointing performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections in the state. The BJP’s tally dropped from 23 seats in 2019 to just 9 seats in 2024, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance made significant gains.
Fadnavis a prominent figure in the BJP’s Maharashtra leadership, announced his intention to request the party’s top brass to relieve him of his government responsibilities so that he can focus on strengthening the party ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections. He acknowledged that the party fell short in assessing the anti-incumbency factor and addressing issues such as farmer distress and onion prices.
The decision comes after the BJP-led Mayayuti alliance managed to secure only 17 out of 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, while the MVA, comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP), and Congress, won 30 seats. Fadnavis attributed the alliance’s performance to a “fake narrative” that negatively impacted the BJP’s prospects.
Despite the electoral setback, Fadnavis clarified that his decision to region was not driven by emotional distress or a desire to retreat. He emphasized that he would continue to work and has already initiated plans for the upcoming assembly elections.
The resignation offer has sparked a flurry of reactions from political leaders. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Fadnavis’s ally, acknowledged that the electoral defeat is a collective responsibility and stated that he would discuss Fadnavis’s decision with him. However, the Congress dismissed Fadnavis’s offer as “drama” and called for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resign instead.
The intervention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and RSS leaders in the matter underscores the unease within the BJP regarding the party’s decline in Maharashtra. Fadnavis, a key figure in the BJP’s plans for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and the party’s alliance partners, has been seen as a potential scapegoat for the electoral setback.
The BJP’s strategy, centered around Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been criticized for overlooking critical issues such as caste, farmer discontent, and Dalit unrest. State leaders’ objections to policies like the sudden imposition of an export duty and blanket ban on onions were reportedly disregarded by the Central leadership.
Despite the perceived setbacks, the BJP recognizes Fadnavis’s importance in Maharashtra, particularly in light of the failed strategy to weaken the Sena and NCP through a split. However, Fadnavis is not entirely blameless, as he has been accused of interfering excessively in candidate selection decisions during the Lok Sabha elections.
The lack of coordination between the BJP, Shive Sena, and NCP during the polls, despite the BJP’s significant poll machinery and manpower, has also been highlighted. Allies have pointed to the unfulfilled 14 vacancies in the state ministry and several vacant corporation posts as contributing factors to the alliance’s underperformance.
The aggressive Hindutva stance adopted by the BJP in Maharashtra during the two years preceding the elections, with the first ‘anti-love jihad’ and ‘anti-land jihad’ rallies, seems to have backfired, consolidating the Hindu vote bank but also encouraging Muslim support for the Udhav-led faction. The Maratha reservation issue also negatively impacted the BJP’s prospects, with Fadnavis criticized for mishandling the situation as Home Minister.
As the state assembly elections loom, Fadnavis’ resignation offer is seen as a strategic move to shift the blame for the Lok Sabha defeat the position himself for a stronger role in the party’s plans. However, the BJP’s central leadership will need to carefully navigate the political landscape in Maharashtra, addressing the concerns of state leaders and alliance partners to regain the trust of voters.