Devendra Fadnavis interview: ‘BJP largest party, will contest more seats … But does not mean we will stake claim to CM chair’

With days to go before Lok Sabha elections conclude in Maharashtra in the fifth phase on May 20, the state’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis sits down with The Indian Express to discuss his assessment of the ground situation in the state, coordination problems between the members of the ruling Mahayuti alliance, Sharad Pawar, and Uddhav Thackeray.

Excerpts:

In 2014, there was a lot of excitement based on hope for a change. In 2019, people saw the results delivered under PM Narendra Modi’s leadership. All the floating vote banks that were decisive in 2014 and 2019 have become the BJP and NDA’s stable voters. The conversion of floating voters into the BJP-NDA has added to our strength and stability.

Almost all PM Modi rallies have drawn huge, responsive crowds. This indicates that the BJP is firm and holding its ground. It is a fact that this time there is a new permutation and combination, with three parties each in the ruling alliance and the Opposition.

Initially, when the NCP led by Ajit Pawar became part of our alliance there was simmering discontent amongst the BJP workers, especially in west Maharashtra as our party had always treated the NCP as its political rival. We devoted the next two months to explaining to our cadre the reason for aligning with the NCP. Eventually, we succeeded.

Sharad Pawar is a force to reckon with in Maharashtra. It is not about how many seats his party wins or what his electoral base is. He represents Opposition unity. In such a scenario, if people from his party willingly join us, especially at a time when attempts to isolate the BJP are underway, it conveys a strong message politically that is beneficial.

Not at all. The BJP is confident. In any election, there are two aspects: