There Were Always Challenges, But We Did Not Run Away From Them. We Fearlessly Faced Each And Every One Of Them

When he took over as Maharashtra chief minister in October 2014, the highest post DEVENDRA FADNAVIS, 49, had held till then was that of Nagpur mayor. But the four-time BJP MLA and former party president has proved equal to the task despite multiple challenges, such as the widespread agrarian distress in the state, the Maratha agitation, the Dalit uprising and the constant sniping by alliance partner Shiv Sena. However, keeping the BJP-Sena alliance intact for the Lok Sabha earned a rich dividend—41 of the state’s 48 parliamentary seats. Fadnavis and the alliance are now frontrunners in the assembly poll due in October. In an exclusive interview to Group Editorial Director RAJ CHENGAPPA and Senior Associate Editor KIRAN D. TARE in Mumbai, Fadnavis spoke on a range of issues. Excerpts:

Q. What were the main factors behind the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance’s win of 41 of Maharashtra’s 48 seats this Lok Sabha election?

The credit goes to Mr Modi. The way he has governed for five years has had a huge impact on the minds of the people. For the first time, they had a direct attachment to the leader. A huge wave for the PM was visible. Maharashtra, too, faced many crises in the past four and a half years. But we turned those crises into opportunities with our decisions. That is why there was a lot of positivity among the people.

Q. Will people differentiate between the prime minister’s performance at the Centre and Devendra Fadnavis’s governance in the state while voting in the assembly election four months from now?

I don’t think there will be any difference because we have had elections in Maharashtra every year in the past four and a half years and won every one of them. We have passed a test every six months. And with merit. The municipal corporation elections, the municipal council elections, the zila parishad polls, the gram panchayat elections. I don’t think anything is going to change. In fact, all those fence-sitters wondering whether we could repeat our performance will now be on our side.

Q. Including Congress MLAs?

You got the leader of the opposition to join the BJP. Many fence-sitters within the Congress and the NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) want to come to the BJP and Sena, of course. We are evaluating those who have a good image in public. We are open to them.

Q. You had a torrid relationship with the Shiv Sena before the Lok Sabha election. Did the alliance with the party help?