Gadkari and Fadnavis camps get busy lobbying

BJP's central leadership is expected to take a call next week, reports Sanjay Jog

Hectic lobbying is underway within the Bharatiya Janata Party over who should be the next chief minister of Maharashtra. Already, 40 legislators from Vidarbha region and leader of opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council Vinod Tawde have come out in the open extending their support to former party president Nitin Gadkari, saying he is the most capable leader to lead the minority government.

Gadkari told party legislators: “I’m happy in Delhi. We will take a decision about the leadership (in Maharashtra) in the next few days. All I can say now is that I'll play whatever role I am given.”

On the other hand, a section of legislators have made a strong pitch for state unit chief Devendra Fadnavis to be made the chief minister. They have argued that ‘oopar Narendra, neeche Devendra’ (Narendra Modi at the Centre and Devendra in the state) is an ideal combination for the BJP to further grow and consolidate both at the national level and in Maharashtra.

The BJP, which has won 123 seats, has already mobilised support from 11 independents, but is still short of 11 seats to reach 145 -- the required figure for simple majority. Interestingly, the BJP's Nagpur city unit chief Krishna Khopde, who is elected to the 13th Assembly, has offered to resign and give his seat to Gadkari, who has been elected to the Lok Sabha from Nagpur seat. However, state leaders have left the decision to the high command.

Incidentally, both Gadkari and Fadnavis have strong support from the top leaders of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Besides, both hail from Nagpur, where RSS is headquartered. It was at the RSS' urging that Fadnavis was chosen last year as the BJP's president in the state. Both Gadkari and Fadnavis are Brahmins.

Tawde told Business Standard: “There are no differences within the party over who should become the state chief minister. Fadnavis and myself do feel that Gadkari should be made at this point in time. Both of us have already expressed that Gadkari, who is currently the minister in the Union ministry, will have to take up the CM's post. However, I must tell you that Gadkari has been repeatedly saying he is not keen to come back to Maharashtra.''

Tawde's decision to support Gadkari as chief minister comes after former state unit chief Sudhir Mungantiwar initiated a debate in this regard. Thereafter, in a major show of strength, 40 legislators with their supporters welcomed Gadkari at the Nagpur airport and later met him at his residence on Tuesday, requesting him to become the chief minister. Gadkari did not displeased them saying he will abide by the high command’s decision in this regard.

A BJP legislator and a former minister, who did not wish to be named, said: “Gadkari has good relations across the parties. He has every potential to lead the minority government, especially when the Nationalist Congress Party has extended support from outside to the BJP-led government and the party is not keen to take Shiv Sena on board.”

Prime Minister Modi and BJP president Amit Shah will take a final call after Union home minister Rajnath Singh and party general-secretary J P Nadda submit their reports following their meeting with the newly-elected legislators next week.

Image: Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Maharashtra BJP chief Devendra Fadnavis during Vijaya Dashami function at RSS headquarters in Nagpur. Photograph: PTI Photo