Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Laxman Jagtap, crediting him as the driving force behind the massive infrastructural transformation of the Pimpri Chinchwad area over the last ten years. The CM was speaking at the inauguration of a memorial dedicated to Jagtap in Pimple Gurav, just two days before the politician's first death anniversary on January 3.
A Legacy of Development and Vision
Fadnavis highlighted that the developmental surge in the twin-city area was a direct result of Jagtap's foresight. He specifically pointed out that more than 50 major projects were initiated under Jagtap's leadership, a majority of which are now either completed or in advanced stages of construction. "These projects will significantly change the city's landscape once finished," the Chief Minister stated, emphasizing the late leader's enduring impact.
Laxman Jagtap, a three-term MLA from the Chinchwad constituency, was one of the most influential political figures in the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). He, along with colleague Mahesh Landge, was once a close aide of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar during the Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP) long reign over the civic body. Their strategic shift to the BJP in 2017 proved to be a pivotal moment, enabling the BJP to break the NCP's nearly three-decade-long dominance and seize control of the PCMC.
Political Loyalty and a Prophetic Wish
Recalling an extraordinary display of commitment, CM Fadnavis shared a poignant incident from the 2023 Rajya Sabha elections. Despite being critically ill, Jagtap traveled in a cardiac ambulance and wore a full PPE kit to reach the Maharashtra assembly to cast his crucial vote. "He said he would come in any situation as the party needed him," Fadnavis recounted, showcasing the leader's dedication.
In an even more striking revelation, Fadnavis said that immediately after casting that vote, Jagtap expressed a personal wish. "He told me he wanted to see me as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra," Fadnavis said, noting that he was the Leader of the Opposition at that time. The CM added, "Perhaps it was his vision to see beyond the present. Within 15 to 20 days, the state government changed and we came to power."
Continuing the Family and Political Legacy
The political legacy of Laxman Jagtap continues strongly within the BJP. His brother, Shankar Jagtap, who is the current sitting MLA from Chinwad, was appointed as the BJP's election in-charge for the crucial PCMC polls. The family's influence and the late MLA's memory remain potent in local politics, as evidenced last year when Shiv Sena MP from Maval, Shrirang Barne, visited Jagtap's memorial to pay his respects during the Lok Sabha election campaign.
Through his speech, Chief Minister Fadnavis cemented Laxman Jagtap's reputation not just as a savvy politician who altered the region's political equations, but as a visionary whose initiatives laid the foundation for the modernisation of Pimpri Chinchwad. The over 50 projects he set in motion stand as a concrete testament to his enduring contribution to the city's development trajectory.
