Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis
PTI
Mumbai: The BJP's reverses in Maharashtra in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls were due to poor vote transfer from the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Thursday.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, in the run up to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly polls, acknowledged that the transfer of votes was more from Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena than Ajit Pawar's NCP in the recently-concluded Lok Sabha polls.
However, Fadnavis, who calls the shots for BJP in Maharashtra, ruled out any rotational post of Chief Minister.
During a debate hosted by a TV news media group in Mumbai, Fadnavis asserted that the Maha Yuti would attain majority. “The BJP is No. 1 party and will remain so. The Maha Yuti alliance would come to power with a full majority,” he said.
“The transfer of votes was more from Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena than Ajit Pawar's NCP. These parties were new and were formed after they broke away. It took time for them to settle and identify their voter base,” said Fadnavis, a former two-time Chief Minister and ex-Leader of the opposition in the Legislative Assembly.
Fadnavis said it would be wrong to call the BJP a party that is weak. "We may have just won 9 seats. But, we lost 12 seats by narrow margins, anywhere between 5,000-6,000 votes. The Maha Vikas Aghadi won by peddling a fake narrative. People have seen through that, and we have gained ground," he said.
Fadnavis theorised that BJP's "core voter base" did not like the alliance with the NCP, though "80 per cent" are now convinced about the need for such "political compromises", he added.
The ruling alliance, which comprises the BJP, NCP and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, managed to win just 17 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state. BJP won nine seats, down from 23 in the 2019 edition.
"It is true that this is the BJP's worst performance in the last few general elections. We contested 28 seats but still got very less seats. However, we lost 12 seats by less than 3 per cent votes, which is a margin of 3000-6000 votes. One must remember we received the highest number of votes in this (2024 Lok Sabha) election," he said.
Fadnavis said the BJP got more seats than Shinde's Sena (7) and Ajit Pawar's NCP (1), which he said were breakaway parties and, in a way, new parties.
"For them, this Lok Sabha election basically entailed settling of their voters. It was a bit difficult for both of them. For us, it was comparatively easier because out voter base is settled," Fadnavis said, adding these issues won't get repeated in the state assembly polls.
"It was easier for Shiv Sena to transfer its votes to us, because both parties had an alliance for many years. However, we have always contested against the NCP. Hence, it was difficult for them to transfer those votes. But now, the voter base of both parties is settled," the senior BJP leader asserted.
Fadnavis admitted that while BJP's core voter base did not like the alliance with the NCP, party workers have assuaged their fears.
"But we managed to persuade them (workers) of the necessity of this alliance (with the NCP). There are political compromises that go against what you truly believe, but you still move forward with them. We made these kinds of compromises. I can guarantee that at least 80 per cent of our voter base is now convinced (of the need to ally with NCP)," he said.
Fadnavis also said discussion on 80 per cent of the 288 assembly seats in the state is over, adding "winnability is more important than focusing on any kind of perception".
Maharashtra assembly polls are likely to be held in November.
(With PTI inputs)