Devendra Fadnavis returns as Maharashtra Chief Minister for third term with Shinde and Pawar as Deputies

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Legislature Party Leader Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as the 21st Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Thursday (December 5, 2024) evening in a grand ceremony at Azad Maidan, Mumbai, witnessed by thousands.

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State Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan administered the oath of office to Mr. Fadnavis, who steered the BJP-led Mahayuti to victory in the Marathi State, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and several Union Ministers besides Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers of NDA-ruled States.

Mr. Fadnavis’s spouse Amruta and daughter Divija and the family members of Mr. Shinde and Mr. Pawar were seated among the audience. The Opposition MLAs skipped the swearing-in ceremony.

This marks the third time Mr. Fadnavis, 54, an MLA from Nagpur South-West, would occupy the coveted Chief Minister’s office on the sixth floor of the Mantralaya (State administrative headquarters). His previous terms were from 2014 to 2019 and briefly in November 2019, when his government lasted only 72 hours due to a lack of majority support.

Outgoing Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, leader of a breakaway Shiv Sena faction, took the oath as Deputy Chief Minister, alongside Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Ajit Pawar. No other leaders were inducted into the Council of Ministers, with the Cabinet formation expected in the coming days.

The new government was formed after two weeks of negotiations following the November 20 State Assembly polls, whose results were declared on November 23. A special session of the Maharashtra Legislature will be held from December 7 to 9 in Mumbai for the swearing-in of newly elected members. The Winter Session is likely to follow in Nagpur from December 16 to 23.

Mr. Fadnavis, an RSS swayamsevak, emerged as the frontrunner for the post after the BJP secured 132 seats in the 288-member Assembly. With allies the Shiv Sena and the NCP, the Mahayuti coalition holds a commanding majority of 230 seats.

On Wednesday (Dec. 4), Mr. Fadnavis, accompanied by Mr. Shinde and Mr. Pawar, met Governor Radhakrishnan to stake their claim to form the government, presenting Letters of Support from coalition partners. Following the meeting, the Governor invited Mr. Fadnavis to lead the new administration.

Downplaying titles, Mr. Fadnavis said, “Chief Minister or Deputy Chief Minister is just a technical arrangement. The three of us — myself, Mr. Shinde, and Mr. Pawar — will work together and make joint decisions as we have done so far.” His comments came amid reports that Mr. Shinde was unhappy about being denied a second term as Chief Minister.

Early political career

Mr. Fadnavis began his political journey in Nagpur, the headquarters of the RSS, becoming a corporator at just 22. By 27, he became Nagpur’s youngest Mayor in 1997. His early involvement with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the RSS, in 1989, laid a strong ideological foundation and positioned him within the BJP.

In 1999, he contested and won his first Assembly election and has since maintained an unbroken winning streak. Unlike many leaders across the political spectrum in Maharashtra, he has remained untainted by accusations of corruption. Known for his articulate style, he gained prominence by targeting the previous Congress-NCP Government over the alleged irrigation scam, a portfolio held by Mr. Pawar, now his coalition partner.

With the backing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who famously called him “Nagpur’s gift to the country”, Mr. Fadnavis first became Chief Minister in 2014, becoming only the second Brahmin to hold the post after Shiv Sena’s Manohar Joshi, and the first from the BJP. Before him, late Union Minister Gopinath Munde had reached the position of Deputy Chief Minister in 1995 during the Shiv Sena-BJP Government.

During his first term, Mr. Fadnavis focused on infrastructure development, earning the trust of urban voters. His administration spearheaded projects like the expansion of the Mumbai Metro and extensive road-building initiatives, showcasing a commitment to modernising the State’s urban infrastructure. He also prioritised improving the ease of doing business, attracting investments, and launching the ambitious Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan, aimed at water conservation in drought-hit regions.

However, his government faced several challenges. Unpredictable weather led to significant crop losses, prompting widespread demands for farm loan waivers. Initially hesitant, Mr. Fadnavis announced a waiver in 2017, balancing fiscal responsibility with political pressures.

The Maratha reservation issue was another test of his leadership. His government passed a law granting reservations to the Maratha community, temporarily calming protests. However, the Supreme Court later struck it down, leaving many Marathas dissatisfied and blaming Mr. Fadnavis for the setback.

Setbacks and comebacks

The 2019 Assembly elections marked a turning point in his career. Despite the BJP’s strong performance, its alliance with Shiv Sena broke down over the Chief Minister’s post. Uddhav Thackeray’s (erstwhile) Shiv Sena allied with the NCP and the Congress to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) Government, sidelining Mr. Fadnavis.

In a dramatic twist, Mr. Fadnavis briefly formed a government with Mr. Pawar in November 2019. However, the alliance collapsed within 72 hours due to insufficient majority support. This episode, though a setback, demonstrated Mr. Fadnavis’s bold decision-making and strategic acumen.

Following the 2022 Shiv Sena split led by Mr. Shinde, many expected Mr. Fadnavis to return as Chief Minister. However, he was asked by the BJP leadership to serve as Deputy Chief Minister under Mr. Shinde. Initially reluctant, Mr. Fadnavis accepted the role, showcasing his loyalty to the party and long-term strategic patience.

Challenges ahead

As Mr. Fadnavis takes office for the third time, he faces a complex set of challenges. Chief among them is the unresolved Maratha reservation issue, which continues to spark protests. He also had the responsibility of balancing the interests of the BJP, coalition partners, and the wider electorate.