Sat Nov 30 19:34:00 UTC 2024: ## Fadnavis Orchestrates BJP’s Landslide Victory in Maharashtra

**MUMBAI, December 1, 2024** – Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, is being hailed as the architect of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) resounding victory in the recently concluded state assembly elections. The BJP, part of the winning Mahayuti alliance, secured a staggering 132 out of 148 contested seats, a nearly 90% success rate.

Fadnavis’s strategic maneuvering has been credited with the BJP’s triumph, a sharp contrast to the party’s performance in the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year where they won only nine out of 28 seats in the state. His role in engineering the splits within the Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) – actions his opponents labeled as “divisive politics” – has significantly altered the state’s political landscape.

The BJP’s resurgence is a remarkable turnaround from 2019, when Fadnavis’s attempts to form a government failed following a rift with Uddhav Thackeray. His 2019 quote, “Don’t settle on my banks, thinking my water has receded. I am an ocean. I will return,” has taken on new significance in light of the BJP’s current dominance.

Fadnavis, a former Chief Minister, has a long history with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). His career trajectory, from Nagpur mayor to the youngest Chief Minister of Maharashtra, is marked by rapid ascent and significant achievements. While his supporters praise his leadership and strategic prowess, opponents criticize his alleged authoritarian style and lack of tolerance for competition.

Despite his instrumental role in the BJP’s victory, Fadnavis notably requested to be relieved of his Deputy Chief Minister post following the Lok Sabha elections, citing a desire to strengthen the party’s organization. This move, considered a surprising step-down by some, has ultimately contributed to his current position of power and influence within the party.

The BJP’s victory in Maharashtra is a testament to Fadnavis’s political acumen and strategic capabilities, solidifying his position as a key figure in Indian politics. His past and present actions, however, continue to be debated and analyzed by political analysts and commentators.

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