📷 Image Credits: News18
In a significant development, senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reportedly advised Devendra Fadnavis to continue as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister despite his offer to resign post the poor performance of the party in the state during the Lok Sabha elections. Fadnavis recently met Shah at his residence to discuss the party’s organizational efforts and reasons behind the electoral setback in the state. Sources suggest that Shah has asked Fadnavis to carry on with his duties until further discussions post Narendra Modi’s oath-taking ceremony over the weekend. The Mahayuti alliance, also known as the NDA in Maharashtra, faced heavy electoral reverses with the BJP securing nine Lok Sabha seats compared to the 22 won in the 2019 elections. The Shiv Sena managed to win seven seats, while the NCP could only secure one seat. Fadnavis had offered to resign two days ago, emphasizing the need to focus on rebuilding the party for the upcoming assembly elections later this year. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde acknowledged the defeat as a collective responsibility of the alliance and mentioned that discussions with Fadnavis will follow soon. The ruling coalition of BJP-Shiv Sena and NCP collectively fell short in countering the opposition’s misleading claims during the election campaign. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how Fadnavis’s decision to resign will play out in the coming days.
