Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made key statements on Saturday regarding Mumbai's political landscape and recent local elections in Pune. He confidently asserted that Mumbai will have a consensus mayor from the Mahayuti alliance, downplaying concerns about poaching amid Shiv Sena's relocation of corporators to a five-star hotel.
Mumbai Mayor Selection Process
Fadnavis emphasized a collaborative approach for choosing Mumbai's next mayor. He stated that leaders from both the BJP and Shiv Sena will meet to decide on the mayor's position and tenure. The chief minister ruled out any differences, predicting a smooth process for running India's financial capital efficiently.
"Eknath Shinde, I, and other leaders from both parties will meet together," Fadnavis explained. "We will take a joint decision about who will be the Mumbai mayor and for how long. There will not be any differences. Everything will go smoothly."
Addressing Poaching Concerns
When questioned about Shiv Sena moving its newly elected corporators to a luxury hotel, Fadnavis dismissed speculation about poaching attempts. He compared the situation to his own meetings with BJP corporators in Pune, suggesting similar gatherings might be happening in Mumbai for coordination purposes.
"Just like I am meeting newly elected BJP corporators in Pune, Eknath Shinde may have called them for a meeting in Mumbai," Fadnavis clarified. "There is no question of poaching."
Pune Political Dynamics
Fadnavis was in Pune to attend the welcome ceremony for the Pune Grand Tour cycling event. During his visit, he commented extensively on local election results and NCP developments.
When reporters informed him about the morning meeting between Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar, and the decision for both NCP factions to contest Zilla Parishad polls together, Fadnavis responded with a simple "Good."
On Ajit Pawar's Absence
The chief minister addressed Ajit Pawar's absence from Saturday's state cabinet meeting in Mumbai. Fadnavis revealed that Pawar had informed him in advance about his unavailability.
"We all met at night on the voting day," Fadnavis recalled. "Ajit Pawar had said that day itself that he would not be able to come for the cabinet and the function here today because the governor was visiting him."
Election Results Analysis
Fadnavis provided insights into Mumbai's municipal election outcomes. He noted that the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance lost 14 seats by narrow margins in Mumbai, with some defeats coming by less than 100 votes.
"The BJP-Sena alliance lost 14 seats by less than seven, fifteen, or one hundred votes in Mumbai," Fadnavis detailed. "Shinde-led Sena contested the election there for the first time. They were expecting more seats, but lost a few by narrow margins."
The chief minister highlighted that the BJP secured 89 seats while Shiv Sena won 29 in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. He pointed out that the undivided Shiv Sena never achieved such numbers in the past three elections.
"We have broken the record of the undivided Shiv Sena in the past three elections," Fadnavis declared. "We have a full majority. The next Mumbai mayor will be from Mahayuti."
Pune's Political Message
When asked if Pune voters rejected Ajit Pawar (popularly known as Ajit Dada), Fadnavis reframed the question positively. He emphasized public support for the BJP's development agenda rather than framing it as rejection of any individual.
"I will not say that Puneites rejected Dada," Fadnavis stated. "I will say that Puneites accepted BJP, BJP workers, and Modiji."
He noted that while Ajit Pawar's NCP participates in the Mahayuti government at state and central levels, the decision to ally with NCP (SP) against BJP in Pune Municipal Corporation and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation polls failed to challenge BJP's dominance.
When questioned about who now represents Pune's "Dada" figure, Fadnavis gave a democratic response. "Pune's people are the 'Dada' and we all are their sevaks," he affirmed.
Broader Political Observations
Fadnavis shared his perspective on Maharashtra's political landscape, suggesting voters have clearly indicated their preference for development-oriented governance.
"People of Maharashtra decided that they would side with those who support Modiji," Fadnavis observed. "Voters have shown the other parties, be it Congress or anyone else, that the agenda of development will work here."
On Opposition Role
The chief minister, who served as opposition leader from 2019 to 2022, offered advice to opposition parties. He stressed the importance of active public engagement for any opposition to be effective.
"Instead of asking if those in power are eliminating opposition, one should ask the opposition if it will play the role of the opposition," Fadnavis suggested. "Will they make the effort and enter the fight?"
He continued, "I spent many years in the opposition, most recently in 2019. I performed the role of the opposition leader for two-and-a-half years despite our party having maximum seats. When one is in the opposition, one has to interact with the public and raise their issues. No opposition party takes shape by sitting at home."
Fadnavis also reminded reporters about his accurate prediction regarding the MNS alliance with Shiv Sena (UBT), noting that the arrangement did not yield significant gains as anticipated.
