Maharashtra BJP chief Devendra Fadnavis (left) at a press conference in Mumbai
Mumbai:
As it became clear that the BJP will be the single largest party in Maharashtra but will need an ally to form government, Devendra Fadnavis left the small, unassuming hostel room that he has called his Mumbai home for years now and made his way to the party office.
"People have given us a positive mandate, BJP will definitely form a government in Maharashtra, there will be a Chief Minister from the BJP," Mr Fadnavis told reporters.
The BJP's parliamentary panel held a meeting in Delhi today evening to assess the party's political options and chief ministerial face. The 44-year-old Mr Fadnavis is seen as the front runner.
His supporters have had the catchy slogan "Narendra in Delhi, Devendra in Maharashtra" in circulation for months. Bouquets have been sent to him spelling "CM" as he has emerged the most likely candidate.
But multiple attempts to get him to admit he is in the running for the top post have come to naught. Sipping tea from a humble glass tumbler he told NDTV, "I have got no indications yet on who will be chief minister, the BJP parliamentary board will decide."
The party did not project a chief ministerial face and crafted its campaign around PM Narendra Modi and his development pitch. Mr Fadnavis credits the BJP's performance today to the Prime Minister and party chief Amit Shah. "PM Modi's charisma has worked, Amit Shah camped here, empowered us and ensured accountability," he said.
Sources say the young Brahmin leader is backed by the BJP's ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and is a party favourite because of his clean image and wide acceptability. Mr Fadnavis is also seen as a "new-age leader" in BJP's largely jaded line-up in Maharashtra - a big plus in Mr Modi's book.
The BJP is seen to lack a prominent face in Maharashtra since the death of Gopinath Munde in a car crash in June. Union minister Nitin Gadkari, who addressed some 100 rallies in the state, had denied speculation that he was the chief ministerial pick.
"People have given us a positive mandate, BJP will definitely form a government in Maharashtra, there will be a Chief Minister from the BJP," Mr Fadnavis told reporters.
The BJP's parliamentary panel held a meeting in Delhi today evening to assess the party's political options and chief ministerial face. The 44-year-old Mr Fadnavis is seen as the front runner.
His supporters have had the catchy slogan "Narendra in Delhi, Devendra in Maharashtra" in circulation for months. Bouquets have been sent to him spelling "CM" as he has emerged the most likely candidate.
But multiple attempts to get him to admit he is in the running for the top post have come to naught. Sipping tea from a humble glass tumbler he told NDTV, "I have got no indications yet on who will be chief minister, the BJP parliamentary board will decide."
The party did not project a chief ministerial face and crafted its campaign around PM Narendra Modi and his development pitch. Mr Fadnavis credits the BJP's performance today to the Prime Minister and party chief Amit Shah. "PM Modi's charisma has worked, Amit Shah camped here, empowered us and ensured accountability," he said.
Sources say the young Brahmin leader is backed by the BJP's ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and is a party favourite because of his clean image and wide acceptability. Mr Fadnavis is also seen as a "new-age leader" in BJP's largely jaded line-up in Maharashtra - a big plus in Mr Modi's book.
The BJP is seen to lack a prominent face in Maharashtra since the death of Gopinath Munde in a car crash in June. Union minister Nitin Gadkari, who addressed some 100 rallies in the state, had denied speculation that he was the chief ministerial pick.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
