Maharashtra CM Alleges Coordinated Social Media Campaign Against Davos Investment Success
In a significant development from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has made serious allegations regarding a coordinated social media campaign aimed at undermining the state government's investment achievements. Speaking to reporters through an online briefing on Thursday, Fadnavis asserted that political opponents have deployed what he termed a "paid toolkit" to spread misinformation about Maharashtra's investment plans.
Identical Content Circulated Across Platforms
The Chief Minister pointed out that identical images and text were being systematically shared across various social media platforms by specific individuals. "Many prepared a paid toolkit to churn out a fake narrative," Fadnavis stated emphatically. "The same images and text are being floated on various social media platforms by a few individuals." This coordinated effort, according to him, was designed to question the credibility of the memorandums of understanding (MoUs) that Maharashtra plans to sign with global corporations during the Davos summit.
Political Jealousy Behind Criticism, Claims Fadnavis
Fadnavis attributed this criticism to what he described as an inability to "digest Maharashtra's success" in attracting substantial foreign direct investment (FDI). He contrasted the current administration's achievements with those of previous years, highlighting a dramatic increase in investment commitments. "They used to do MOUs of ₹79,000–80,000 crore in 2020–21, and we are doing it of over ₹30 lakh crore," he revealed. "Obviously, there will be some sort of jealousy, but we ignore such people with such a mentality."
While the Chief Minister did not explicitly name the earlier Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by Uddhav Thackeray—which included Congress, the undivided Shiv Sena, and NCP—his remarks were widely interpreted as a pointed political rebuttal. This comes amid increased scrutiny and comparison of investment announcements made at previous Davos forums.
Focus on Converting Commitments into Reality
Addressing concerns about past investment agreements that allegedly did not materialize, Fadnavis rejected such comparisons and emphasized his government's commitment to tangible outcomes. He maintained that the administration's primary focus remains on converting these commitments into actual projects and job creation. The scale of interest shown by international firms at Davos, he argued, reflects strong confidence in Maharashtra's policy stability and execution capabilities.
"I know who are behind all this, but we exposed them with our work. We will not respond to them," Fadnavis declared, choosing not to identify specific individuals or political groups behind the alleged campaign. He concluded by asserting that "our work speaks for itself," even as criticism continues to circulate online.
The allegations highlight the increasingly contentious nature of political discourse surrounding economic achievements and the growing role of social media in shaping public perception of government performance.
