DEVENDRA FADNAVIS, THE RISING STAR OF SANGH PARIVAR

Without any doubt, the newly elected Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, is the new rising star of the Sangh Parivar.

- PANKAJ VOHRA

By ensuring that the Maha Yuti came to power with a convincing win in the recently concluded Assembly polls, Fadnavis, has proved his mettle as a political leader, who has a bright future and could be in contention for the leadership of the country at some point of time. He has a distinct advantage over many of his contemporaries since he has the blessings of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, which played a pivotal role in his appointment, particularly when the Shiv Sena boss and former Chief Minister, now deputy CM, Eknath Shinde, seemed adamant at taking over the post. Several top BJP leaders at the Centre were willing to accommodate Shinde, but the RSS put its foot down and refused to shift its stand. Fadnavis has been a Sangh loyalist since very early in life and has acquired his political skills from senior functionaries of the Sangh Parivar. He had been responsible for breaking both the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party and agreeing to play second fiddle when the Maha Yuti government was formed. His sacrifice did not go unnoticed and the Sangh was simply waiting to reward him, and has done precisely that when the opportune moment came.