Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis is on a whirlwind campaign, addressing almost five rallies a day, in the run-up to the Maharashtra polls. Excerpts from an interview with ET's Krishna Kumar & Jatin Takkar:
On BJP's chances in polls
During the Lok Sabha polls, the opposition played up the narrative that reservations will go away, which pushed Dalits away. Secondly, adivasis were polarised against us. After the elections, we went to the people and even they realised that reservation will not go away. Also, there was 'vote Jihad' against us in several constituencies. Now, even if it happens, the impact will be limited. The Congress accepting the demands of the Ulema, especially the one where they have agreed to release rioters from 2012 to 2024, is dangerous.
On the 2019 government with NCP
While we were trying to get in touch with Uddhav Thackeray to form the government, it was Sharad Pawar who first sent two senior party leaders to us to form a government with them. I was surprised. However, we were told that the offer has come from Sharad Pawar himself. We met and decided on cabinet posts and guardian minister posts. It was Pawar who decided the strategy that since the elections had happened just now, we need to first go for President's rule. He was to later claim that people want a stable government. Hence, he would support the BJP government.
On BJP seats
We will not go below the 2019 seat numbers. We will get more seats than that. Vidarbha has shifted back to us. We will get the same number of seats that we got last time.
On freebies
We have taken schemes that have worked in different states, like in Madhya Pradesh the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme has got good traction. Modiji's policies have been women centric as he feels that unless the 50% of population (women) are given support socially and financially, the country will not be able to develop.
On the chief minister's post.
Leaders of all the three-party leaders would sit together and decide. Our parliamentary board would also be involved to decide who the next CM would be. I am not in any race.
On Raj Thackeray
We would have liked him to partner him. But we are already three parties and we were negotiating a lot on seats. So, how would we adjust a fourth one? He would damage us in a few seats
On'Katenge toh Batenge'
You are taking that in a negative sense. It is the history of this country that when we got divided on the lines of language, caste, community and language the country suffered. So 'Katenge toh Batenge' needs to be taken in a positive sense.
On coordination with the Sangh.
Sangh is a parent organisation. This time, we requested all member organisations of this ideological family as ultra-Leftist and anarchists are working to created discord. They want people's faith in the country's institutions to go down. In the 2024 polls, we did not fight with the INDI alliance. We fought with these forces. This time, we requested all these member organisations of Sangh that even though you may not have anything to do with politics but for the sake of the country you should help us.
On becoming deputy CM
When the process of government formation with Shinde was started, it was decided that he would be made CM. I said I would stay out. But, Modiji called me and said we need an experienced man to stabilise the new government. Now, I realise how important it was to stay in the government.
On the chances of joining hands with Uddhav again?
After what I saw in 2019, there is nothing impossible in politics. It (coming together with Uddhav) is not possible now. It would not be needed after the elections.
On BJP's chances in polls
During the Lok Sabha polls, the opposition played up the narrative that reservations will go away, which pushed Dalits away. Secondly, adivasis were polarised against us. After the elections, we went to the people and even they realised that reservation will not go away. Also, there was 'vote Jihad' against us in several constituencies. Now, even if it happens, the impact will be limited. The Congress accepting the demands of the Ulema, especially the one where they have agreed to release rioters from 2012 to 2024, is dangerous.
On the 2019 government with NCP
While we were trying to get in touch with Uddhav Thackeray to form the government, it was Sharad Pawar who first sent two senior party leaders to us to form a government with them. I was surprised. However, we were told that the offer has come from Sharad Pawar himself. We met and decided on cabinet posts and guardian minister posts. It was Pawar who decided the strategy that since the elections had happened just now, we need to first go for President's rule. He was to later claim that people want a stable government. Hence, he would support the BJP government.
On BJP seats
We will not go below the 2019 seat numbers. We will get more seats than that. Vidarbha has shifted back to us. We will get the same number of seats that we got last time.
On freebies
We have taken schemes that have worked in different states, like in Madhya Pradesh the 'Ladki Bahin' scheme has got good traction. Modiji's policies have been women centric as he feels that unless the 50% of population (women) are given support socially and financially, the country will not be able to develop.
On the chief minister's post.
Leaders of all the three-party leaders would sit together and decide. Our parliamentary board would also be involved to decide who the next CM would be. I am not in any race.
On Raj Thackeray
We would have liked him to partner him. But we are already three parties and we were negotiating a lot on seats. So, how would we adjust a fourth one? He would damage us in a few seats
On'Katenge toh Batenge'
You are taking that in a negative sense. It is the history of this country that when we got divided on the lines of language, caste, community and language the country suffered. So 'Katenge toh Batenge' needs to be taken in a positive sense.
On coordination with the Sangh.
Sangh is a parent organisation. This time, we requested all member organisations of this ideological family as ultra-Leftist and anarchists are working to created discord. They want people's faith in the country's institutions to go down. In the 2024 polls, we did not fight with the INDI alliance. We fought with these forces. This time, we requested all these member organisations of Sangh that even though you may not have anything to do with politics but for the sake of the country you should help us.
On becoming deputy CM
When the process of government formation with Shinde was started, it was decided that he would be made CM. I said I would stay out. But, Modiji called me and said we need an experienced man to stabilise the new government. Now, I realise how important it was to stay in the government.
On the chances of joining hands with Uddhav again?
After what I saw in 2019, there is nothing impossible in politics. It (coming together with Uddhav) is not possible now. It would not be needed after the elections.
