Devendra Fadnavis' First Reaction After BJP Unanimously Elected Him As Legislature Party Leader

Devendra Fadnavis has been unanimously chosen as the Leader of the Maharashtra BJP Legislative Party and is set to return as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra for a third term. Addressing party workers after his election, Fadnavis promised to work in the best interests of the state and its people, acknowledging the massive mandate given to the Mahayuti alliance in the recent Assembly elections.

Speaking to BJP workers, Fadnavis stated, "In the coming days, there will be decisions we welcome and some we may not, but our priority will remain the larger interest of Maharashtra and the nation. We will strive to meet the expectations of the people." He also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying, "From starting as a ward-level leader to becoming Chief Minister for the third time, I owe my journey to the unwavering support of PM Modi and HM Amit Shah."

Fadnavis credited the BJP's thumping success to the leadership of PM Modi, emphasizing the mantra "Ek hai toh safe hai" and "Modi hai toh mumkin hai." The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar's NCP faction, secured 230 out of 288 Assembly seats, with the BJP achieving its best-ever tally of 132 seats in Maharashtra.

The decision to elect Fadnavis was proposed by senior BJP leader Chandrakant Patil and confirmed at a legislature party meeting held at Vidhan Bhavan. The announcement was made by former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, one of the central observers alongside Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Fadnavis thanked his fellow legislators for their unanimous support and also extended gratitude to allies Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar for their contributions to the alliance's success.

A delegation led by Fadnavis is set to meet Governor C P Radhakrishnan at 3:30 pm to formally stake claim to form the new government. Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted the significance of the "double-engine government" at the state and Centre, stating it would accelerate Maharashtra's development.

Fadnavis concluded his address by thanking the people of Maharashtra for their overwhelming support, reaffirming his commitment to serving the state with a clear vision and dedicated efforts. The swearing-in ceremony is expected to take place shortly, ushering in the new Mahayuti-led government.