Page 16 - Devendra Fadnavis

BJP wins first seat for Mahayuti in Maharashtra with 66k votes in Wadala

In Maharashtra, BJP-led NDA alliance is leading on 222 seats while Opposition alliance led by the Congress is ahead on 57 seats and others are leading on 9 as of 1 pm trends

Maharashtra Assembly poll: Devendra Fadnavis emerges as man of the moment

From an obscure corporator to becoming the youngest mayor of Nagpur, to the first BJP chief minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis' climb up the political ladder has been steady, as he looks all set to occupy the state's top post for the third time. In a state dominated by Maratha politics and politicians, the 54-year-old leader, with deep roots in RSS, is only the second Brahmin after BJP's estranged ally Shiv Sena's Manohar Joshi to become the state's chief minister. Ahead of the 2014 assembly polls, the soft spoken and portly leader was a clear favourite for the coveted post, largely due to the confidence he enjoyed of both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior BJP leader Amit Shah. "Devendra is Nagpur's gift to the country," Modi had said of him at an election rally. Though Modi had launched a campaign blitzkrieg in the 2014 Lok Sabha and Maharashtra assembly polls, a portion of the credit also went to Fadnavis, then state BJP president, for the party's unprecedented ...

Assembly Polls: BJP-led NDA ahead in Maharashtra, INDIA leads in Jharkhand

As of the 10 am counting trends, the Mahayuti-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was leading in over 211 of the 288 seats in Maharashtra, while the Opposition was ahead in 76 constituencies

Maharashtra results: Fadnavis leads in Nagpur South West, show early trends

Maharashtra Assembly results: Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has represented Nagpur South West since 2009

Maharashtra polls: Who will be the next CM? Key contenders in the spotlight

Maharashtra Assembly elections: Here's a look at the key candidates from both Mahayuti and MVA vying for the position of Maharashtra's next chief minister

Pro-incumbency helped in Maharashtra; Mahayuti will form govt: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday attributed the rise in the voting percentage in the state assembly polls to "pro-incumbency" and the feeling of "affinity" the voters had towards the Mahayuti government. The increase in the voter turnout would benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ruling allies, he said, expressing confidence that the Mahayuti alliance would form the next government in the state. An estimated 65 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the Maharashtra assembly elections held on Wednesday. The figures are provisional, election officials said, adding that 61.74 per cent of polling was recorded in the 2019 assembly elections in the state. In the assembly polls, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance made a determined bid to retain power, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition hopes to continue its good showing in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Talking to reporters at the Nagpur airport, Fadnavis said, "The voting percentage in

Maharashtra Elections 2024: Voter turnout records at 32.18% till 1 pm

In the Gadchiroli district, voter participation surpassed 50 per cent by 1 PM, while Mumbai City reported the lowest turnout at 27.73 per cent

Jobs, caste dynamics may shape poll outcome in Fadnavis' home turf

Fadnavis has represented Nagpur South-West since 2009, when it was carved out of Nagpur West - the constituency the five-time legislator first won in 1999

Highlights: Entry of trucks into Delhi banned except those carrying essential goods from Mon 8 am

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Does Fadnavis's call for 'dharma-yudh' conform to code of conduct: Uddhav

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday asked if the call for "dharma-yudh of votes" given by Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis does not violate the Model Code of Conduct of the Election Commission of India. Addressing a campaign rally in Dombivli in the district ahead of the assembly polls, Thackeray said he was asked to remove the words "Jai Bhavani, Jai Shivaji" from his party's election anthem before the Lok Sabha elections, but he refused to do so. "Devendra Fadnavis has given a call for "dharma-yudh of votes. I am asking the Election Commission, does dharma-yudh fit in with your Model Code of Conduct?" the former chief minister said. Referring to a purported appeal by an Islamic scholar for a "vote-Jihad" against the Mahayuti government, Fadnavis, at a rally in Pune on Friday, had called for a "dharma-yudh of votes" to counter it. Thackeray, meanwhile, also said that the BJP today is a "hybrid" full of opportunist leaders imported from outside. "

Fadnavis using vote jihad to give religious colour to polls: Sharad Pawar

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday accused Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his BJP colleagues of trying to give a religious colour to the upcoming assembly polls by raking up vote jihad. Speaking to reporters in Pune, the 83-year-old politician left it to the people to respond to Deputy CM and NCP chief Ajit Pawar over his remarks that he would be in the next line of leadership after the senior Pawar. Referring to a purported appeal by an Islamic scholar for vote-Jihad against the BJP-led Mahayuti government, Fadnavis had on Friday called for a dharma-yudh of votes to counter it. Asked about Fadnavis's appeal to voters, Pawar said it was the BJP leader who had brought up vote jihad, referring to minorities favouring the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in a few constituencies during the Lok Sabha elections. If in one area of Pune where Hindus are in the majority and they vote for the BJP, it is common knowledge that this outcome was expected. Tha

'Batenge to katenge': How this slogan is shaking up Maharashtra elections

As the BJP struggles to align its campaign narrative in Maharashtra, the slogan 'batenge to katenge' has revealed underlying tensions within the party and its alliances

Maharashtra secured 52% national investment under BJP, says Fadnavis

However, Fadnavis claimed that with the formation of the new government, Maharashtra quickly regained its position at number 1. Citing the latest RBI report, he pointed out that Maharashtra

Maharashtra: Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis slams MVA over Ulema Council's demands

"One demand is: all cases against the Muslim community in riots from 2012 to 2024 should be dismissed and taken back. I want to ask, what kind of politics is this?" Fadnavis added

Amid controversy, EC checks bags of Maha CM Shinde, Fadnavis, Ajit Pawar

Earlier today, the bags of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was also checked by the poll officials at Palghar Police ground helipad as part of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Checking of bags a non-issue, Uddhav seeking votes by whining: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray was trying to divert the attention by needlessly protesting against the checking of his bags by poll officials and was "seeking votes by whining". What is wrong with checking of bags? the senior BJP leader wondered. Thackeray's frustration was showing, Fadnavis said on Tuesday while campaigning for the ruling Mahayuti's candidate Sulabha Ganpat Gaikwad in Kalyan East in Thane district ahead of the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls. "What is wrong with checking bags? We had our bags checked during campaigning, and there was no need for this level of frustration," the deputy CM said, adding that election officials followed the same procedures with his campaign team too. Lacking pressing topics, Thackeray is now "seeking votes by whining", he said. For the second consecutive day, Thackeray claimed his bags were inspected by election authorities on Tuesday after he arrived in Latur

Our ancestors did jihad against Britishers, yours penned letters: Owaisi

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi has targeted Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis over his "vote jihad" remarks, claiming the BJP leader's (ideological) ancestors wrote "love letters" to Britishers instead of fighting against them. During a public meeting here on Sunday, Owaisi also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Ek Hai to Safe Hai" slogan goes against the diversity ethos. Fadnavis on Saturday claimed "vote jihad" had begun in poll-bound Maharashtra, which should be countered by "Dharma yuddha" of vote. He had mentioned the BJP's narrow loss in Dhule Lok Sabha constituency. Countering him, Owaisi said, "Our ancestors did jihad against Britishers and Fadnavis is now teaching us about jihad. (PM) Narendra Modi, (Union minister) Amit Shah, and Devendra Fadnavis together cannot defeat me in a debate." Owaisi claimed the "dharmayuddha-jihad" remarks amounted to poll code violation. "From where did 'vote jihad and dharmayuddha' come in democracy? You purchased MLAs; should

People of Maharashtra will give BJP a befitting reply: Kharge to Fadnavis

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday slammed the BJP over its leader Devendra Fadnavis' remarks on Rahul Gandhi showing a 'red-covered' copy of the Constitution, and said the people of Maharashtra and the country will give a befitting reply to the "anti-Constitution and anti-reservation" BJP. His remarks came after Fadnavis asked what message Rahul Gandhi wanted to give by showing a red-covered copy of the Constitution of India. Fadnavis also accused the Congress leader of building a coalition of anarchists. In a post on Hindi on X, Kharge asked why has the BJP started "hating" the Constitution of India so much. "We are asking this question not only to the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and the Chief Minister of Assam, but also to Modi Ji, who had to bow down to the Constitution in Parliament after the Lok Sabha elections," Kharge said. By repeatedly linking the Constitution with Naxalism, do the BJP/RSS leaders want to bring their defeated agenda of implementing .

Rahul Gandhi using 'red book' to seek help from 'urban Naxals': Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday alleged that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, was trying to seek support from "urban Naxals and anarchists" by holding a "red book" in his hand. Notably, Gandhi, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, has been displaying an abridged version of the Constitution in a red cover during his rallies. The state assembly polls are scheduled on November 20. During his visit to Nagpur on Wednesday, Gandhi carried a copy of the Constitution in his hand at an event where he once again advocated for a caste census, saying the exercise will happen in the country and it will show the injustice meted out to Dalits, OBCs and Adivasis. Asked about the LoP seeking a caste census in the country, Fadnavis on Thursday told reporters here, "My allegations made two days back against Rahul Gandhi have proved true about his inclination towards 'urban Naxals'. He showed the red book and tried seeking help (politically) from urban Naxals and ...

BJP bastion Nagpur South-West won't be cakewalk for Fadnavis: Experts

The Nagpur South-West assembly seat in Maharashtra is considered a stronghold of the BJP, but this time its MLA and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is expected to get a good fight from his Congress opponent, say political observers. While Fadnavis has a strong chance of winning the seat in the November 20 state polls, it could be a close contest between him and his Congress rival Prafulla Gudhade Patil, whom the BJP leader trounced in 2014, they said. The flooding in some areas of the constituency after heavy rains last year and inflation are among the most discussed topics among the electorate in the high-profile seat, comprising 4,08,149 voters. The BJP is hoping to blunt the opposition's campaign by highlighting Ladki Bahin Yojana, a financial aid scheme for the poor women, and other welfare measures for different sections of the society, political analysts said. Some prominent establishments like the Multi Modal international Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN), AII