Race for supremacy

Fadnavis is strong on political front, facing difficulties in administrative push

Mumbai: For Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, this year has not just been about reclaiming his administrative legacy; it has been about proving that the BJP remains the indispensable anchor of stability, especially as the party navigates the choppier waters of coalition politics in New Delhi.

The opposition parties in the state, though broken by the 2024 defeat, have had a field day. Throughout the past year, they adopted a “shoot and scoot” strategy, levelling corruption charges against ministers with alarming frequency. While many charges haven’t stuck, the sheer volume has kept the government on the defensive. The MVA’s narrative has found some traction in rural pockets, where agrarian distress remains a sore point despite the government’s new loan restructuring schemes.

If Fadnavis’ first term (2014-2019) is remembered for the Metro and the Samruddhi Mahamarg, his third term is shaping up to be defined by direct benefit transfers and social security. Sensing the rural distress that cost the ruling alliance dearly in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Fadnavis shifted gears immediately upon taking charge last December.

Flagship Scheme

The flagship ‘Ladki Bahin Yojana’, initially launched as a poll promise, saw a massive expansion this year. The monthly aid was not only regularized but the coverage was expanded to include women from slightly higher income brackets, effectively turning a welfare scheme into a universal social dividend for Maharashtra’s women.

Government’s decision to offer complete electricity bill waivers for agricultural pumps up to 7.5 HP came as a massive relief to the Vidarbha and Marathwada belts. Coupled with the aggressive implementation of the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Jan Arogya Yojana—which now covers medical expenses up to Rs 5 lakh for every family regardless of income criteria—the Fadnavis administration has successfully created a “welfare safety net” that the opposition has found difficult to puncture.

Undisputed Heavyweight

One year in, Devendra Fadnavis remains Maharashtra’s undisputed political heavyweight. His administrative grip is firm, and his vision for a trillion-dollar state economy is back on track. Yet, the political capital required to maintain this speed is higher than ever.

In 2014, he was a man in a hurry, leading from the front. In 2025, he is a man in a hurry, but one who must constantly check his rearview mirror to ensure his partners are still with him—and not dragging the wheels. The coming year, with the local body polls as the battleground, will decide if his administrative reforms can indeed survive the corrosive nature of coalition politics.

Shaky Delhi

The political significance of this stability extends far beyond the state’s borders. With the BJP at the Centre grappling with the constraints of a coalition government and a reduced mandate since the 2024 general elections, Maharashtra has emerged as the party’s most critical fortress.

On the backdrop of fractured mandate in Lok Sabha elections followed by the sudden exit of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Fadnavis has played the role of the reliable lieutenant perfectly. By insulating the state’s economy from political tremors and ensuring Mumbai remains an investment magnet – attracting over 40 per cent of India’s total FDI in 2025 – he has also provided the Centre with the economic narrative it desperately needs to counter the “slowdown” critiques.

Road Ahead

As the state gears up for the impending Local Body elections, the Fadnavis government faces its true litmus test. The narrative is set: on one side, a slew of populist decisions—free healthcare, direct cash transfers, and accelerated slum redevelopment in Mumbai—aimed at the common voter. On the other, the undeniable friction of a three-headed coalition and the opposition’s charges of corruption.

For now, Devendra Fadnavis has managed to keep the ship steady and the passengers relatively happy.

The Report Card

Pass

1. Push for investments

2. Focus on infrastructure

3. Reduced electricity rate

4. Welfare schemes

Fail

1. Failure in maintaining social harmony

2. Lack of tough action against corruption

3. Internal friction in ruling alliance

4. Rising law and order issues

“The government is busy patting its own back. They sit in five-star hotels and narrate their achievements, but people have received nothing except disappointment.”

Vijay Wadettiwar, Leader, Congress