Mumbai: Amidst talks of ‘change in leadership’ in Maharashtra, a banner proclaiming BJP’s deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis as the ‘future CM’ has suddenly caused a stir in state politics. However, the BJP leader promptly made it clear that the next elections in the state will be fought only under current CM Eknath Shinde’s leadership.
In Maharashtra, talks are doing rounds that CM Shinde has reportedly been asked to “switch roles” with Fadnavis. In this context, a banner put up in Nagpur proclaiming Fadnavis as the ‘future CM’ have raised everyone’s eyebrows.
The banner, installed by a local leader Bablu Gautam – who is considered to be a staunch supporter of deputy CM – has hailed Fadnavis as a future CM. It also carries the images of other top BJP leaders like union minister Nitin Gadkari and state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule on it.
“Devendra Fadnavis is our leader and he had also been the state CM. Though Shinde is the current CM, Fadnavis will be the future chief minister,” said Gautam.
However, Fadnavis, who is currently on election campaign in Karnataka, said that the 2024 Vidhan Sabha election would be fought by the incumbent government under the leadership of CM Shinde.
“This Government is fully stable. 2024 elections will be fought by this government. Eknath Shinde will remain as the chief minister till 2024 and we will fight elections under his leadership,” said Fadnavis.
He also stated that in the 2024 elections, the BJP-Shiv Sena government will get full majority both in Vidhan Sabha elections and Lok Sabha elections.
Meanwhile, banners have also been put up at Ter village in Dharashiv district proclaiming NCP leader Ajit Pawar as the 'future CM.' Ter is incidentally the hometown of Pawar's wife.
The banners have mentioned Pawar as "the son-in-law of Ter" and "the CM in the minds of people." This has come after Pawar’s recent statement that he was ready to become the chief minister even now rather than waiting for 2024 assembly elections.
There are speculations that Pawar was being offered chief ministerial post by BJP in anticipation of the Supreme Court verdict regarding disqualification of some MLAs of the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde. However, the NCP leader vowed that he will remain with the party till his last breath.
