Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday reiterated the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) slogan ‘Ek Hain To Safe Hain’ as the Mahayuti alliance surged towards a decisive victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Fadnavis wrote in Hindi, “Ek Hain To Safe Hain. Modi Hai To Mumkin Hai.” As of 12:45 pm, data from the Election Commission showed the BJP leading in 125 seats, with Shiv Sena at 55 seats and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) securing 38 seats—key components of the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Fadnavis, 54, is also leading from the Nagpur South West constituency with a lead of over 19,000 votes, according to the latest updates from the Election Commission.
In a show of support, Union Home Minister Amit Shah personally called Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Fadnavis to congratulate them on the alliance’s strong performance.
The positive outcome of this election comes as a significant boost for Fadnavis, who had earlier offered to resign as Deputy CM after the BJP’s underwhelming performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Fadnavis’ Political Journey
Fadnavis has had a remarkable political career, starting as the youngest mayor of Nagpur before rising to become the Chief Minister of Maharashtra in 2014. In the 2019 assembly elections, despite the BJP winning the largest number of seats, Fadnavis faced a dramatic political shift. The Shiv Sena’s insistence on sharing the Chief Minister’s post led to Fadnavis seeking an alternate alliance with NCP leader Ajit Pawar. This coalition, however, was short-lived, collapsing after just 72 hours.
Fadnavis then assumed the role of Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. In June 2022, the political landscape in the state dramatically changed when Eknath Shinde, along with 39 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, destabilized the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. Following Uddhav Thackeray’s resignation, Fadnavis was instructed by the BJP leadership to return to government as Deputy CM under Shinde’s leadership.
Though initially hesitant, Fadnavis ultimately accepted the role, reinforcing his loyalty to the party leadership. With the latest election results showing the Mahayuti alliance on the verge of a sweeping victory, it is clear that his political resilience continues to pay off.
