As Maharashtra gears up for the upcoming assembly elections, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis firmly stated that the ruling Mahayuti alliance does not need to announce a candidate for the chief ministerial position, as Eknath Shinde has already been designated as their choice for the role. Fadnavis made these remarks during a press conference held on Wednesday, emphasizing the confidence the alliance has in Shinde’s leadership.
“The Mahayuti doesn’t have to announce a CM face; our chief minister is sitting here,” Fadnavis declared, challenging the opposition leader Sharad Pawar to reveal their candidate for the chief ministerial post. He further criticized the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), saying, “They are not announcing a CM face because they don’t think their CM can come after the elections.”
Fadnavis did not hold back when addressing the opposition’s track record, pointing out several controversies involving the MVA. He remarked, “The alliance whose home minister went to jail for accepting a bribe of Rs 100 crore, who planted bombs outside a businessman’s house, and who were picking up journalists and putting them behind bars, are telling us about the law and order situation.” He also referred to the misuse of the Nirbhaya Squad vehicles during the MVA’s tenure, highlighting their failure in ensuring women’s safety.
In response to concerns about the upcoming elections, Fadnavis assured the public that the Mahayuti alliance had already allocated financial provisions for various schemes. “We have announced all the schemes, made all the financial provisions, and in our manifesto, we will introduce new schemes and benefits for everyone,” he stated. He pointed out the success of the Ladki Bahin Yojana, where over 2.5 crore beneficiaries have received multiple installments despite initial skepticism from the opposition.
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also participated in the press conference, stating, “Our two years of work and performance is the face of our alliance.” He urged the MVA to announce their leader of the opposition. “Presenting our two-year performance card is not an easy task. It reflects our commitment to delivering results,” Shinde added.
The joint press conference, attended by Deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, aimed to showcase the achievements of the ‘Mahayuti’ government, reinforcing the alliance’s confidence in their performance as they head into the election season. With the opposition under scrutiny and the ruling alliance positioning itself as a stable alternative, the upcoming elections in Maharashtra are set to be closely contested.