Devendra Fadnavis is BJP's Maharashtra unit chief

Blow to Nitin Gadkari, but a boost for his rival Gopinath Munde

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh appointed Nagpur legislator Devendra Fadnavis as the party’s president in Maharashtra, ignoring former president Nitin Gadkari’s suggestion to give another term for Sudhir Mungantiwar.

Fadnavis replaces Mungantiwar.

Forty-two-year-old Fadnavis, who represents  South West Nagpur in the under-developed Vidarbha region in the state assembly, will now lead the party during the 2014 general elections.

“This is a huge responsibility. Our priorities will be those of the people of Maharashtra,” said Fadnavis.

Gadkari, who had to step down as BJP president in the wake of income tax raids against Purti Group associated with him, was pressing for another term for Mungantiwar, who also hails from the Vidarbha region.

On the other hand, Fadnavis’ appointment has upped the profile of Gadkari’s bete noire and BJP’s deputy leader in the Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde in the state.

Fadnavis, whose family is considered close to RSS leaders, joined politics at an early age. At 21, he became the youngest corporator of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation. At 26, he was the youngest mayor of Nagpur. This is his third consecutive term as legislator.

Fadnavis is known as a politician with a clean image and has led scathing attacks against the Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra on issues relating to the multi-crore irrigation scam, state’s deteriorating financial position, corruption and mishandling of drought relief and the government’s apathy towards farmers suicides. Fadnavis was at the forefront to demand the resignation of Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar for making crass remarks against a farmer who was demanding water.

A BJP leader, who did not want to be identified, told Business Standard, “The real challenge for Fadnavis is to gear up party organisation ahead of the 2014 general elections. BJP’s alliance with Shiv Sena needs to be further strengthened, while Fadnavis will have to create a consensus among party for the inclusion of the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena to forge united alliance to unseat the Congress-NCP government in the state. Besides, BJP will have to further increase its presence on its own in the state and not by depending on its saffron ally Shiv Sena.”